Well, howdy there, internet people, it's Bell again.

And welcome to the Roads with Bell.

Today's December 28th, 2025.

And this is episode 123 of The Roads Not Taken, which is a weekly series where we go over the news.

That was unreported, underreported, didn't get the coverage

we thought it deserved, or we just found it interesting. And then we go through a few questions

from y'all. Today is December 28th, and today is National Call a Friend Day. And on this date

in 1973, the Endangered Species Act was signed.

And starting with foreign policy. China has announced sanctions against U.S. firms and citizens

over the arms sale we talked about last week. Ukraine hit Russian refining capacity with British

made storm shadow missiles. Iran seized an oil tanker it accuses of smuggling. I'm sure the world

was going to say something, but events closer to home have given Iran cover for their actions.

The Saudis have gotten involved in a deteriorating situation in Yemen. There's massive friction

in the anti-Houthi coalition. Germany's centrists have accused the AFD of attempting to disclose sensitive military information to the Kremlin.

Despite Trump declaring the war over, Thailand bombed the Cambodian border again.

There are signs that the newest non-Trump directed ceasefire agreed to after that bombing might hold.

Algeria voted to declare France's colonization of the land a crime and demands restitution.

There was a blast at a mosque in Nigeria. There are also reports that one of the villages

hit by Trump's Christmas War was improperly targeted. Reporting says it didn't have the connection

to IS. Trump thought it did. Chinese naval power is reportedly being increased by turning converted container ships into floating missile batteries.

They are not building battleships.

In U.S. news, if you're supposed to pick up anybody at the airport anytime soon, check to make sure their plane is on schedule, or even coming.

...