Egypt offers plan to end Israel-Gaza war: The Egyptian government has created a peace plan to end the 11-week war between Israel and the Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The Wall Street Journal reported on the three-step plan that calls for an initial pause in fighting to allow for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of around 140 Palestinian prisoners. The plan also seeks a transitional government for Gaza and the West Bank made up of various Palestinian factions that would include Hamas. The likelihood of the plan’s acceptance is hampered by the Israeli insistence on eradicating Hamas and the terrorist group’s refusal release more hostages without a ceasefire.
Pope calls for Mideast peace: Pope Francis used his “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas address to call for an end to the war in Gaza. The 87-year-old pontiff condemned the “abominable attack” on Oct. 7 by the Hamas terrorists and repeated his “urgent appeal for the liberation of those still being held hostage.” He called for “an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims” and stated that “our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war.”
Putin foe relocated to Siberian prison: The jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, whose legal team has been unable to reach him for several weeks, has been moved to a prison colony known as “the Polar Wolf” in the remote Siberian region of Yamalo-Nenets. The Wall Street Journal reported Navalny’s relocation comes ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s plan to seek re-election next year. Leonid Volkov, an aide to Navalny, wrote on social media that the prison colony represented “the highest possible level of isolation from the world.”
Billionaire buys stake in Manchester United: Jim Ratcliffe, the richest man in the U.K., purchased a minority stake in the Manchester United soccer team for $1.3 billion. Ratcliffe – the founder and chairman of the Ineos petrochemical company – is acquiring 25% of Manchester United’s nonvoting shares at $33 a share. He will also acquire 25% of the nonlisted voting shares held by the Glazer family, the team’s majority stakeholder, and will spend $300 million to renovate the team’s Old Trafford stadium.
Comedian Neel Nanda dies at 32: Neel Nanda, a stand-up comedian who gained prominence through his appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” died at the age of 32; his passing was announced on Sunday and the cause of death was not announced. Born in Atlanta to Indian immigrant parents, Nanda first appeared on Kimmel’s show in 2017 and made appearances on the Comedy Central programs “Adam Devine’s House Party” and “Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents.” He also starred on Hulu’s “Coming to the Stage,” Viceland’s “Flophouse” and Snapchat’s “Apocalypse Goals.”
“Aquaman” sinks at box office: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” was the top grossing film the domestic box office over the four-day holiday weekend, grossing an estimated $40 million. However, the $205 million film’s performance was viewed as one of the worst openings for a superhero epic – worse than the $47 million that “The Marvels” generated in its opening last month. “Wonka” was the second most popular film at the box office with $28 million for its second week in theaters, followed by three new openings: the animated “Migration” with $17.5 million, the rom-com “Anyone But You” at $8 million and the Indian import “Salaar Part 1 Ceasefire” at $6.9 million.
Cover photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
