State Dept ‘cry session’ therapy slammed
Rep Darrell Issa demanded Anthony Blinken explain the in-house State Department counselling sessions laid on after Donald Trump’s election win
“I am concerned that the Department is catering to federal employees who are personally devastated by the normal functioning of American democracy,” Issa said in a letter to Blinken last week.
He added that it was “disturbing” that “nonpartisan government officials” should not be suffering a “personal meltdown over the result of a free and fair election.”
PTSD (Post-Trump Stress Disorder) is real, folks.
#US
South Korean man found guilty of binge-eating to avoid draft – media
A South Korean man has been found guilty of deliberately gaining weight to evade mandatory military service, the Korea Herald reported.
The 26-year-old, who has not been named, reportedly doubled his daily food consumption and drank a large amount of water just before his physical examination for the military draft, which is compulsory for all able-bodied men in South Korea. He received a one-year suspended sentence for his offense, the outlet wrote, citing a district court judge.
#SouthKorea
Nationalist candidate achieves shock success in Romanian election
Romanian nationalist Calin Georgescu has surprised observers by likely topping the first round of the country’s presidential election, according to early results.
With nearly 100% of the ballots counted, in the early hours of Monday, Georgescu, who has gained traction for his anti-Ukraine war stance, holds 22.91% of the vote, ahead of centre-right reformist Elena Lasconi with 19.18%.
Pro-EU Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu conceded defeat after placing third.
#EU #Romania
Footage: Rescue service helicopter puts out fire in southern Moscow
According to firefighters on the scene, the blaze, which erupted earlier on Monday, has been contained.
#Russia #Moscow
Beirut's southern suburbs left in ruins following IDF strikes
Beirut's southern suburbs are left filled with destroyed buildings, burnt cars, rubble and devastation after series of Israeli strikes, targeting alleged Hezbollah command centers.
#Israel #Lebanon
UK unveils 'biggest ever' anti-Russia shadow fleet sanctions package
Westminster has targeted Moscow's shadow fleet, foreign secretary David Lammy announced before a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy.
Because sanctions have been so effective so far...
#UK #Russia
Islamabad sealed off ahead of planned mass protests for Imran Khan’s release
Pakistani police have detained over 4,000 supporters of former PM Imran Khan, including 5 legislators, ahead of a planned rally in Islamabad demanding his release from prison.
In response to escalating tensions, the government has sealed off the capital with shipping containers and blocked major roads.
#Pakistan
🚨ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI SLAMS US🇺🇸 SANCTIONS
‘I’ve never been a big fan of these sanctions. They could have hurt the Iranian government, they may have marginally hurt the Russian economy, but I think in general, they hurt the standing of the US dollar.’
‘50 years from now, an economic historian will look back and say the weaponisation of the US dollar is probably not necessarily helping the United States, if the US wants to maintain its mantle of financial services leadership and wants to maintain the US dollar as a global reserve currency.’
-Donald Trump’s former White House Communications Director and the Founder of SkyBridge capital Anthony Scaramucci
FULL INTERVIEW: https://rumble.com/v5sk9x5-anthony-scaramucci-trump-will-surprise-people-on-ukraine-will-he-bring-a-cr.html
Indonesians boycott pro-Israeli products amid the ongoing bombardment of Gaza; some companies report a slowdown in profits
#Gaza
Vilnius plane crash: No probe needed
The self-declared experts in 🇬🇧 mainstream media have drawn their own predictable conclusions...
Note: The head of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre has said "technical problems" may be the cause of the issue, but never let an inconvenient fact get in the way of a good story...
#DHL
Horrific shanty town fire destroys 1,000 homes in Philippines
Local authorities reported that over 3,000 people were evacuated to a nearby relief center, but miraculously, no casualties have been officially recorded.
The blaze has now reportedly been contained after breaking out on Sunday in the port area of the capital, Manila. The cause is under investigation.
#Philippines
Tammy Duckworth criticizes Tulsi Gabbard as ‘compromised,’ raises alarm over alleged Russia ties
The Democratic senator expressed concerns about Trump’s pick to lead the US intelligence community, labeling her “compromised.”
Duckworth cited Gabbard’s visit with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom she labeled a “brutal dictator.” She also slammed Gabbard’s background, noting the intel community flagged her "troubling relationships with America's foes."
"I think that she is someone who is wholly backing and supportive of Putin, and I worry that she will not have America's best interests at heart," Duckworth said.
#Syria
Footage shared by Palestinian media shows the aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on southern Beirut
#IDF
Joe Rogan accuses Zelensky of provoking WWIII, sparks ‘Russia propaganda’ claims from Vladimir Klitschko
The Ukrainian boxing champion and brother of Kiev mayor accused the podcaster of spreading "Russian propaganda" after he criticized Western leaders for escalating tensions with Russia, warning it could lead to World War III.
"Zelensky says Putin is terrified. F*ck you, man. F*ck you, people. You people are about to start World War III," Rogan said. "Maybe that would be a good thing we would like to avoid from a dying former president."
In response, Klitschko condemned Rogan's remarks as mere "Russian propaganda" and asked for money to invite him on his show.
#JRE
❗️Iran’s Ayatollah calls for death sentence for Israeli PM
Speaking to the Basij paramilitary force, Ali Khamenei vowed that Israel would not emerge victorious in Gaza or Lebanon and said the recent ICC arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant didn’t go far enough.
“What the Zionists did was a war crime,” he said. “They have issued an arrest warrant; this isn’t enough — a death sentence must be issued for Netanyahu. A death sentence should be issued for these criminal leaders.”
#Iran
⚡️Special counsel Jack Smith files to drop January 6 charges against Donald Trump
#US #Trump
Prosecutors seek 20 years for elderly Frenchman who organized wife’s mass rape
French prosecutors seek a 20-year sentence for Dominique Pelicot, 71, who drugged and facilitated the rape of his wife by dozens in their home. Pelicot admitted guilt in a case highlighting systemic sexual violence as fifty others face trial for participating.
"The maximum sentence is 20 years, which is a lot... but at the same time... too little in view of the seriousness of the acts that were committed and repeated," public prosecutor Laure Chabaud told the court.
#France
France’s Le Pen threatens to bring down government over lack of budget compromise
Marine Le Pen has threatened a no-confidence vote after budget talks with PM Michel Barnier failed amidst her doubts about reaching a compromise on the 2025 budget bill.
The government aims to save €60 billion ($62.85 billion) by implementing tax hikes and spending cuts, targeting a reduction in the deficit from over 6% of GDP this year to 5% next year.
#France
Serbian Parliament Fight: Opposition MPs demand government resignation over collapsed roof tragedy
The session was supposed to consider the draft budget for 2025, but descended into violence when opposition lawmakers accused the government of causing the deaths of 15 people due to the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, hanging a poster that read “Corruption kills.”
#Serbia
Cow fart tax: Denmark to tax flatulent cows
From 2030 Danish farmers will have to pay about $43 per tonne of methane their cows produce after ministers agreed on measures following a report that the country hasn’t cut CO2 emissions for 10 years.
Copenhagen hopes the new regulations will help cut methane emissions by 2.35 million tonnes by 3032.
#Denmark #CO2
Protesters throw eggs at Georgian parliament
Apparently demonstrators were trying to egg-spress their discontent with election results.
Proof lawmakers should never count their chickens.
#Georgia
Israel moves to cut ties with Haaretz, citing critical coverage of military actions
The PM’s government approved a resolution mandating any state-funded entity to cease communication with the left-wing outlet and refrain from placing ads in the paper.
The move is seen as a direct response to Haaretz's critical coverage of Israel's actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, including investigations into abuses by the military.
Haaretz condemned the move as an effort to "silence a critical, independent newspaper" that is objectively more critical of Israeli politics than some Western media outlets.
#IDF
❗️Key points from the MoD’s daily briefing
- Ukrainian forces lost 1,320 troops over the past 24 hours
- Four US-made artillery systems were destroyed
- Russian air defenses downed eight ballistic missiles, six US-made JDAM-guided aerial bombs, and 45 combat drones
- Russian troops successfully pushed the frontline further West in the DPR
#RussianMoD
❗️Russian air defenses downed eight ballistic missiles, the Defense Ministry reported
#SMO
❗️Thirty-one tourists are missing after a boat sank near the Egyptian holiday hotspot of Marsa Alam
The vessel, reportedly named Sea Story, was carrying 45 passengers when it went down in the Red Sea.
#Egypt
Ukraine corruption allegations stall critical energy infrastructure projects amid Russian strikes — Report
According to The Times, Russian strikes have reportedly damaged 80% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while local corruption continues to stall a $1.45 billion bunker project intended to protect the grid.
Despite ongoing blackouts, all government building projects reportedly require informal approval from Kirill Timoshenko, a “lieutenant” of President Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak.
Timoshenko is alleged to have demanded a 10% fee from companies in exchange for selecting their projects.
#SMO
'You’re a f*cking beast!' – Ukrainian public turns on military recruiters as they continue to snatch men off streets
#Mobilization
IDF jets target Hezbollah military HQ in Beirut — Israeli media
Israeli reports claim the latest strikes in the Dahiyeh area of Lebanon’s capital are focused on the key military location, as footage shows huge plumes of smoke billowing upwards.
#Israel #Lebanon #Hezbollah
Gold, cards, and Moon rocks: Bitcoin millionaire spurs treasure hunt, hides $2M in loot across 5 secret spots
Jon Collins-Black has amassed around $2 million of gold artifacts, valuable trading cards, and medals in five separate locations - and has written a book to help people find them.
“You don’t have to be a genius to solve the clues,” the successful trader said of his book ‘There’s Treasure Inside,’ insisting none of the chests are buried underground or hidden on private property.
Among the items are a single Bitcoin - worth almost $100,000 - a coin minted by Pablo Picasso, and a piece of lunar rock.
Is this all an elaborate ruse to steal the Declaration of Independence?
#Bitcoin
Indonesia doesn’t want to be in any blocs; we want to work with everyone – Chamber of Commerce head
#BRICS
