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Winter's Dawn: Celebrating the Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which occurred on December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, signaling the official start of winter. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Julia Gomez from USA TODAY explore the significance of this astronomical event and how it is celebrated across different cultures. The solstice, occurring when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, brings the least amount of daylight and the longest night. This year, the solstice fell on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. EST, marking the astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, the Winter Solstice has been a time of celebration and reflection. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans with their Saturnalia festival and the Norsemen with their bonfires, honored the return of the sun and the promise of longer days ahead. Today, people continue to observe the solstice with various traditions, including gatherings, feasts, and rituals that pay homage to the natural cycles of l...

US Military Strikes Houthi Radar Sites in Yemen Following Merchant Sailor’s Disappearance

 

In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, the United States military has launched a series of attacks targeting radar sites operated by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. These strikes come in response to the rebels’ assaults on shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor. The situation intensified after a merchant sailor went missing following an earlier Houthi strike on a ship.

The U.S. Navy, facing its most intense combat since World War II, aims to counter the Houthi campaign. However, the rebel assaults often endanger ships and sailors unrelated to the conflict, further disrupting cargo and energy shipments between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Central Command reported that seven radars within Houthi-controlled territory were destroyed, preventing the rebels from targeting maritime vessels. Additionally, the U.S. military neutralized two bomb-laden drone boats and a Houthi-launched drone over the Red Sea.

The missing merchant sailor was aboard the Liberian-flagged bulk cargo carrier “Tutor,” which suffered a Houthi attack using a bomb-carrying drone boat. The crew was rescued, but the vessel remains in the Red Sea, slowly taking on water.

As the conflict continues, tensions remain high in the region, impacting global trade and security.

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