Summary:

• The Island of Tonga is in dire need of help and aid. The whole Island has been facing  fresh water and food shortages. 
• The Red Cross has stepped in and promised help as is New Zealand and Australia who are setting up efforts to help the ash covered island as conditions get worse for the inhabitants. 
• Saturday evening a tremendous underwater volcanic eruption launched ash, steam and gas above the South Pacific ocean.
• The eruption coated Tonga with a layer of ash and triggered tsunami waves which cut power and severed connection to nearly all of the island’s residents.
• The tsunami destroyed boats and seaside shops along the Tongan shore and caused flooding across the island.
• The dust blown into the air by the volcano has reportedly contaminated water and prompted authorities to advise residents to wear masks to avoid lung damage.
• The disturbance in the South Pacific triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation orders in several countries including Japan and the US. 
• Coastal California and Alaska have received some flooding due to the tsunami however as the evacuation orders are now being lifted as the tsunami threat recedes. 

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Hindu Extremists Call For Muslim Genocide in India

• Extremist calls for a Muslim genocide in India gain traction as experts warn of an upcoming massacre.
• Pooja Shakun Pandey, a senior member of the right-wing Hindu Mahasabha political party, was recorded at a recent rally saying, “If 100 of us become soldiers and are prepared to kill 2 million (Muslims), then we will win … protect India, and make it a Hindu nation”. Pandey’s words were met with roars of applause from the crowd
• Gregory Stanton, the founder and director of Genocide Watch, warned of early “signs and processes” of Muslim genocide in the Indian state of Assam and Indian-administered Kashmir.

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Following a Three Week Lockdown, The Chinese City of Xi’an Lifts Some Restrictions

• Authorities in the Chinese city of Xi’an have begun easing some restrictions after a 3 week lockdown to extinguish a local outbreak before the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.
• On December 22, the tourist city began a strict lockdown after an outbreak of the delta variant, in accord with its “zero COVID” policy.
• So far, China has reported 104,864 total cases, 119 of them reported on Saturday and of those 64 were local.

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British Citizens Behind Synagogue Hostage Situation 

• British citizen Malik Akram has been identified as the man who took 4 hostages at a synagogue in Texas. Mr. Akram was shot dead after an 11 hour of negotiations. 
• Manchester police has arrested two more individuals in UK who are said to have helped Mr. Akram in planning the incident that took place on Saturday. The identity of those two UK citizens have not been revealed yet. 
• Initially four people including the rabbi were taken hostage with one man being released shortly after.
• In a statement, President Biden said “…I don’t think there is sufficient information to know about why he insisted on the release of someone who’s been in prison for over 10 years, why he was engaged, why he was using anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli comments.”
• The suspect asked for the release of Aafia Siddiqui a Pakistani MIT graduate and neuroscientist who was accused of assault and attempted murder.

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Mali’s Former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Passes Away at 76

• Mali’s former president Ibrahim Bubacar Keita passed away at the age of 76 in the capital of Bamako. The cause of death has not been specified.
• Keita led Mali for seven years from 2013 to 2020 until he was removed in a coup after several anti-government protests occurred due to his handling of jihadist unrest, the economic crisis, and disputed elections. 
• Keita had won the 2013 election in a landslide and was re-elected five years later. Yet a collapsing economy, slow reforms, and weakened public services and schools, in addition to the country’s perception of government corruption, increased anti-Keita sentiment and sparked large protests.

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Australia Deports Tennis Star Novak Djokovic after He Refuses to get Vaccinated

• Australia’s Minister Alew Hawke canceled Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time in a row after he refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The visa was canceled on grounds that Djokovic’s presence in the country may be a risk to the health and “good order” of the Australian public and may discourage others to get vaccinated as well. 
• Djokovic will remain in Melbourne until he is deported; and a deportation order usually includes a three-year ban on returning to Australia. The 11 day battle over Djokovic’s COVID-19 vaccination status prevents him from defending his Australian Open title and fulfilling his goal of a record 21st Grand Slam. He was scheduled to play his first round Australian Open match on Monday night, but could not attend. 
• Djokovic stated that he was “extremely disappointed” but added that he is willing to cooperate with authorities in relation to his departure from the country. The Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic also condemned this move and announced that he stood by the tennis player and that the Australian government should be subjecting all these rules on not only Djokovic but also his family and the entire nation.  

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