⚡️Massive fire breaks out and smoke clouds billow out of New York high-rise
#US #NYC
‘Do you sell cars?’: Jaguar’s ‘woke’ ad blitz backfires
Jaguar's rebrand ad sparked backlash for featuring models with bold slogans like "live vivid" but no cars. Critics, including Elon Musk, questioned the approach, with Musk sarcastically asking, "Do you sell cars?" on X, the platform where the ad debuted.
#Culture
US: Laken Riley’s emotional note read in court, as her convicted killer looks on
Jose Ibarra was found guilty of murdering the US nursing student Laken Riley while she was jogging. Ibarra, 26, is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela who started a political firestorm in America over the border in February of this year.
Her stepfather choked back tears as he read her journal notes, a message to her future husband, “I’m working every day to become the best wife I can be.”
“That your honor was our beautiful Laken… Just a glimpse of what was brutally taken from us that day,” he continued.
#US #Border
Tucker Carlson says Biden put the lives of Americans in jeopardy by giving Kiev the ATACMS green light
Tucker: “A lame duck president just started a hot war with the world’s most dangerous country. All of us are very close to being killed.”
“The prayers of good people got Donald Trump elected two weeks ago. War with Russia and Iran are the counterattack,” he posted on X.
#Tucker #Biden
Japanese, Koreans least satisfied with their love lives
A recent survey revealed only 37% of Japanese and 45% of South Koreans report satisfaction with their sex and romantic relationships. Cue the violins.
South Koreans are particularly miserable when it comes to relationships with partners and spouses, earning the top spot for dissatisfaction, with Japan ranking second. Just 51% of Japanese and 63% of South Koreans can even say they "feel loved" in life.
Perhaps it's not surprising that both countries are undergoing a demographic crisis, marked by extremely low birth rates – 1.20 in Japan and 0.72 in South Korea.
#Japan #Korea
❗️Israel to formally annex West Bank, likely within two weeks — Seymour Hersh, citing ‘well informed’ US official
#Israel #Palestine
Logan Paul under fire for alleged crypto investment scams
Evidence uncovered by the BBC suggests Paul promoted crypto investments without disclosing his financial stake, potentially driving up prices and allowing him to profit. Shocking, since influencers never profit off their sponsorships...
But the drama doesn't stop there. Logan Paul is also battling a multi-million dollar lawsuit over his failed crypto project, CryptoZoo, which he reportedly made millions out of through “insider trading”, according to the claim’s lawyer.
Naturally, he denies any wrongdoing.
#LoganPaul #Crypto
"Magomed was a hero. My colleague, friend, fighter" - RT host Chay Bowes pays tearful tribute in memory of RT producer Magomed Buchaev, killed in SMO
Magomed volunteered to fight in the Ukrainian conflict and was killed during an assault on Chasov Yar in the Donetsk Republic. News of his death came to light through his comrades.
His fellow soldiers who survived the battle told us that he was among those leading the assault and bore the brunt of fire as he directly engaged Ukrainian troops. According to his comrades, that helped to save many of their lives on the battlefield.
Magomed Buchaev worked for three years here at RT.
He died at the age of 27.
#SMO
❗️Danish military monitoring Chinese ship over ‘sabotaged’ Baltic undersea cables
The Danish Defense Command says it is “present” near the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3, suspected of damaging telecommunications cables between Finland and Germany; and Sweden and Lithuania.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius earlier insisted the cables were not damaged accidentally - despite admitting not knowing who was responsible.
“We also have to assume that, without knowing by whom yet, that this is sabotage,“ Pistorius said Tuesday.
#Germany #Baltic
Pakistan to launch new offensive against separatist militants
The move comes following deadly attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Pakistani and Chinese citizens in Balochistan - a region which hosts major Chinese Belt and Road projects like Gwadar Port - including a suicide bombing that killed two Chinese engineers.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the operation after a meeting with military and civil leaders, though it's unclear whether it will involve air support or if China will be directly involved.
#Pakistan
US congresswomen take gender wars up a notch
Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace decided to share her views on gender politics in the literal halls of the US Congress (left).
Mace was commended for the move by fellow conservative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who hung a similar sign near her office back in 2021 (right).
That’s all lovely, but maybe do a healthcare policy poster next?
#US #GenderWars
US: Nepo-bureaucrats’ jobs on the chopping block?
Nancy Pelosi's niece, Alexis, is under fire for earning over $181K in 2024 as HUD’s Senior Advisor for Climate. Critics question the salary, while Elon Musk, nominated to head the ‘Department of Government Efficiency,’ joked on X: “But maybe her advice is amazing,” accompanied by two laughing emojis.
Sadly, it could not be as good as her auntie’s financial counsel.
#Musk #Pelosi
Police dismantle activists' camp near Berlin Tesla plant
German police cleared an environmental protest camp near Tesla's Grunheide factory, citing safety risks after activists obstructed emergency efforts to search for World War II explosives.
#Germany #Tesla
ICYMI: Biden-friendly G20 family photo
After Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau were too late to the original ‘Family Photo', G20 organizers arranged for a second photo to be taken on Tuesday just for the stragglers.
They even arranged it indoors so that Biden wouldn’t get lost in the jungle. Again.
#G20 #Biden #Trudeau
❗️Freezing Ukraine conflict is 'unacceptable' for Russia - Kremlin spox Dmitry Peskov
It is important for Moscow to achieve the goals of the special military operation, Peskov said, after Reuters claimed that President Putin was prepared to freeze the conflict along frontlines if territorial realities were respected.
The outgoing Biden administration is doing everything possible in its remaining time to continue the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin added, citing the permission granted to Kiev to deploy long-range missiles deep into Russian territory, and potentially supply anti-personnel mines to Kiev according to media reports.
#Russia #Ukraine
❗UPDATE: Ibarra guilty of all 10 counts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Ibarra was seen looking down as the sentence was read, as the family of 22 year-old murder victim Laken Riley rejoiced.
While the death penalty exists in Georgia, prosecutors pushed for a life sentence instead.
#US #Border
❗️West plans to attack 4 territories in the southwest of Belarus — State TV
They will reportedly invade the country with armed groups from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.
NATO forces then will come in as back-up support, according to RIA Novosti.
#Belarus #NATO
❗US Speaker Mike Johnson actually had to tell other men not to use the women’s restroom or locker rooms
“US Capitol and House Office Buildings: restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex.” "Women deserve women's only spaces."
Very important announcement..
#US #Gender #Problems
❗Ukraine blames the West for embassy closures — AFP
Ukraine claims Western allies fueled the flames that shutdown embassies in Kiev by citing the warning of a “massive air attack” on the capital.
The threat comes as Ukraine forces have fired US-supplied long-range missiles into Russian territories. US led the wave of closures saying they received “specific information of a potential significant air attack”.
Kiev claims the "information" the US is spreading is just a "psychological operation" created by Moscow.
So, now everyone is against Ukraine?? Even the US...
#Ukraine #US
End of wokeness in schools: Trump taps Linda McMahon for Department of Education head
The president-elect selected Linda McMahon, head of the Small Business Administration during his first term and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, to serve as secretary of the Department of Education.
In his election campaign, Trump insisted on empowering states in education policy, ending 'wokeness' in public education, and eliminating 'left-wing indoctrination' from America's classrooms.
He insisted he would move to cut federal money for schools “pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.”
#Trump
Mom of Daniel Penny and fellow Marines defend his character in Manhattan trial
Daniel Penny’s mother told Manhattan jurors Tuesday that she raised her son with values of “honesty, humility, and kindness.”
Penny, accused of fatally restraining Jordan Neely in a chokehold on a train in May 2023, was also defended by two fellow Marines.
They testified that Penny received a humanitarian medal during his service and described his conduct as exemplary.
#Justice
BRICS nations dominate G20 in economic growth
BRICS nations are showcasing the strongest economic growth among G20 members, as India leads the pack with a remarkable projected GDP for 2024 of 7% - the highest among the economies. (IANS Data)
Indonesia is in second spot with an impressive 5% growth forecast, followed by China, which is expected to achieve a 4.8% GDP increase. Meanwhile, fellow BRICS members Russia and Brazil are set to grow by 3.6% and 3%, respectively.
#BRICS #G20
Times up for Zelensky?
Have a look at two cartoons from The Times drawn by the same artist, about two years apart.
Remember when satire had to be insightful in order to be published?
#Ukraine #Zelensky
❗️Pakistan court grants bail to ex-PM Khan
The Islamabad High Court granted bail to ex-PM Imran Khan in the new Toshakhana case, involving claims he undervalued a €380,000 jewelry gift for his wife while in office.
Khan, jailed since August, has seen convictions in four cases suspended or overturned.
#Pakistan
Russia moves step closer to banning child-free ideology propaganda
The Federation Council has approved laws passed by the State Duma earlier this month banning the propaganda of childfree ideology in Russia, and imposing fines of up to 5 million rubles (around $50,000) for violations.
The adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender can be changed will also be banned under the new measures, which now only await President Putin's signature before coming into force.
#Russia
EU’s Ursula von der Leyen takes a Biden-esque stroll at a Rio beach
Is there a particular reason she did not fancy a public beach in Europe of late?
#VonDerLeyen
Ukrainians training for deadly trench warfare... in East Anglia
At a top-secret British base in the serene surroundings of East Anglia, at least 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers have already been trained for urban combat, trench warfare… and almost certain death.
The Times reported former Ukrainian army chief Valery Zaluzhny’s “inspiring speech” when he visited the sleepy English countryside to address Kiev’s cannon fodder recruits: "Remember, war is becoming more cruel every day… It leaves almost no chance of survival. Learn not to be afraid of death."
Must be tough to deliver such motivation from his London home.
#Ukraine #UK
❗️Italian embassy in Kiev is closing due to the threat of shelling, following the US and Spanish diplomatic missions also temporarily halting operations - Viaggiare Sicuri portal reports
#Italy #Ukraine
'Information has become a battlefield' — Steven Seagal
At the 'Dialog about Fakes 2.0' International Forum, Seagal warned that when individuals and nations are told what to believe, they're often prone to accepting these narratives without question.
#FakeNews #Information
Stick it to the man!
Animals of the world appear to be uniting in their disdain for authority. In China, a gang of racketeer monkeys held up a traffic jam, and weren’t too happy when a police officer tried to disperse them
American pigs, Chinese monkeys… what next, British snakes?
#China
