The Week of December 15, 2024 by CoenM

Congress passed a stripped-down funding bill to avoid a government shutdown, with one of the provisions removed a limit on US investments in businesses in what COUNTRY? Critics said removing the provision benefitted Elon Musk, who opposed the original funding bill and has a Tesla Gigafactory in the country.

The US Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal on whether or not the looming ban of what SOCIAL MEDIA APP violates the First Amendment? Albania also issued a one year ban on the site after a 14 year old was stabbed to death, though the sits says there's no proof that the assailant or the victim had accounts.

Donald Trump announced a lawsuit against what NEWSPAPER, alleging consumer fraud and election interference over its poll, overseen by Ann Selzer, showing Kamala Harris leading Trump in its state?

Five people died at a Christmas market in Germany when a car drove into its shoppers, a case that took a turn when the suspect, who has espoused anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic views online, was found to have emigrated to Germany from what MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY?

The US and Washington state departments of agriculture announced that they had eradicated the invasive insect species vespa mandarinia, known colloquially by what TWO WORD NAME? These were first spotted in Washington in 2019, and gained their nickname due to their large size and ability to destroy bee hives.

What ASIAN COUNTRY announced it was restarting the search for MH370, a flight from its capital to Beijing, which in 2014 disappeared en route? Previous searches did not turn up evidence of a crash or any of the 239 people on board.

What CELEBRATORY RETAILER announced it was going bankrupt and would close all of its nearly 700 US stores by the end of February? The chain had previously declared bankruptcy in January 2023, but exited that bankruptcy still shouldering $1 billion in debt.

Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey announced that A23a, the world' largest one of what FORMATIONS, was once again loose in the Southern Ocean? Formed in 1986 and roughly the size of Rhode Island, it had been stuck in an ocean vortex.

Donald Trump's run of unusual nominations continued when he named what FORMER NFL RUNNING BACK AND US SENATE CANDIDATE FROM GEORGIA as his pick for ambassador to the Bahamas?

Your HallR Memorial Mini-Theme of the Week: Not So Pacific. What ISLAND NATION was shaken by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of its largest island, killing at least 12? Casualties and property damage were centered on the capital of Port Vila.

French president Emmanuel Macron visited what FRENCH TERRITORY in the Indian Ocean, which suffered widespread destruction from Cyclone Chido? Macron was heckled by locals over the lack of food, water, and power in this territory located between Madagascar, Comoros, and Mozambique.

Congress passed a bill that would make what SPECIES OF BIRD the official national bird of the US? Its inclusion in the Great Seal made it the de facto national bird, but its position was never given legal status.