The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world’s longest expressway tunnel, has completed tunnelling in Xinjiang, China. Spanning 22.13 km through the Tianshan Mountains, this engineering feat will slash travel time between southern and northern Xinjiang from several hours to just 20 minutes. Constructed at over 3,000 meters altitude, the dual-direction, four-lane tunnel with a speed limit of 100 km/h overcame extreme geological and environmental challenges. Completed in 52 months instead of the typical 72, it forms part of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, set to open in 2025, reducing travel time between Urumqi and Yuli County from seven hours to three.
INDIA PLANS IN-SPACE DOCKING
India’s ISRO will launch its first Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) on Monday using the PSLV from Sriharikota. The mission, featuring the Bharatiya Docking System, aims to demonstrate the rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two satellites in low Earth orbit—a step towards India’s space station vision. The mission will also utilize the PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) for microgravity experiments. SpaDeX positions India among the few nations mastering in-orbit docking, alongside Russia, the US, and China. This milestone complements ISRO’s progress with Gaganyaan and Aditya-L1, reinforcing its space exploration trajectory.
SLOVAK PM CRITICIZES EU
Slovak PM Robert Fico urged EU leaders to address Ukraine’s refusal to extend its gas transit agreement with Russia, expiring December 31. Fico criticized Kyiv for overlooking the economic repercussions for the EU and called Brussels’ acceptance of the halt “irrational.” Gas transit through Ukraine constitutes 3.5% of EU consumption, but a halt could spike prices by 30%, costing European households €40-50 billion annually. Slovakia, reliant on Russian gas, faces heightened risks, with Fico emphasizing the need for pragmatic energy policies over politically driven actions. The European Commission has yet to respond to his warnings.
MAGDEBURG ATTACK SPURS INVESTIGATION
German parliament’s interior committee is scrutinizing potential security failures before the deadly Magdeburg Christmas market attack. On December 20, Saudi psychiatrist Taleb A. drove a rented SUV into a crowd, killing five and injuring 200. Authorities are examining missed warnings, including Saudi Arabia’s alerts about the suspect, who had a criminal history and refugee status in Germany. The attack mirrored earlier jihadist incidents but featured anti-Islam, far-right sympathies. Lawmakers demand accountability and enhanced coordination between federal and state agencies. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Saxony-Anhalt officials face tough questions, with victims’ families seeking justice.
ROMANIA, BULGARIA TO JOIN SCHENGEN
On January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria will officially join the Schengen Area, ending border checks at their 30 shared land crossings. This marks the culmination of a journey started in 2011 when the European Commission first deemed them eligible for accession. Joining the Schengen Area, which includes 29 nations and nearly 450 million people, will simplify travel and trade for Romanians and Bulgarians. The move promises to save time and reduce costs for travellers and goods transporters. Their accession faced delays due to Austria and the Netherlands’ concerns over migration and governance, now overcome through EU approval in December 2024.
