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Category: World
January 15, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
War
World

Trump Announces Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas, Hostages to be Freed.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal and a return of Israeli hostages after over a year of conflict in the wake of the October 7 attacks. Trump announced the ceasefire on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”

In a follow-up post, Trump credited the “epic ceasefire agreement” to his election victory in November and promised that Gaza would never be a haven of terrorism again.

“We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!” Trump said.

Israeli media confirmed that the Israeli government will convene to approve the deal on Thursday, January 16.

The deal was negotiated in Qatar, which harbored Hamas’ leadership for years until they left in November of last year. The three-stage agreement will see 33 of the 98 hostages released in the deal’s first phase. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have also begun preparations to partially withdraw from Gaza.

The Israeli Supreme Court will have 24 hours to permit an appeal to the ceasefire agreement, meaning the end of hostilities would begin on Friday.

The ceasefire is a significant diplomatic victory for President-elect Trump, coming days before he officially takes office. Freeing the hostages from Hamas and ending the conflict was a major foreign policy promise of the Trump campaign, along with ending the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Trump has already signaled interest in meeting Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and engaging in serious negotiations to end the conflict.

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President-elect Donald J. Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal and a return of Israeli hostages after over a year of conflict in the wake of the October 7 attacks. Trump announced the ceasefire on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, "WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!" show more
January 15, 2025
Immigration
News
Politics
World

Police Investigate Populists Over Mock Deportation Air Tickets.

Police are investigating the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after a local branch created mock boarding passes for deportation flights, allegedly leaving them in the mailboxes of migrant-background residents in the city of Karlsruhe. The “ticket” features a boarding date coinciding with Germany’s upcoming general election on February 23, with leftists accusing the party of inciting hatred.

Karlsruhe Mayor Frank Mentrup criticized the flyer for causing fear, a tactic he argues should not be part of campaigns. The AfD defended its actions, insisting the material was distributed to all voters, not only migrants.

Polls show the AfD in second place ahead of next year’s elections, with over one in five voters supporting the party. It leads the governing Social Democrats and their current and former coalition partners in the Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats, and could double its current number of seats in the German legislature.

Migration remains a pivotal issue in Germany as debates on mass deportations or “remigration” intensify. Even Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to enhance the deportation process for rejected asylum seekers following a terrorist attack at a diversity festival in Solingen, in which a Syrian Islamist stabbed multiple people to death.

According to data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), asylum applications in Germany decreased in 2024. However, Germany still led Europe, with 235,925 applications in 2024.

The AfD has recently embraced “remigration” policies that could see large deportations of illegals and criminal migrants. The populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPOe), which won last year’s Austrian national election, previously took this stance. FPOe leader Herbert Kickl is expected to become the country’s new Chancellor if he can form a coalition government.

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Police are investigating the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after a local branch created mock boarding passes for deportation flights, allegedly leaving them in the mailboxes of migrant-background residents in the city of Karlsruhe. The "ticket" features a boarding date coinciding with Germany's upcoming general election on February 23, with leftists accusing the party of inciting hatred. show more
January 15, 2025
TECH
World

Meta Issues Apology for Zuckerberg’s Remarks on India’s Election Outcome.

Meta has issued an apology after comments by CEO Mark Zuckerberg about India’s elections led to threats of legal action from Indian lawmakers. During a recent appearance Zuckerberg made on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the Facebook founder and Meta CEO suggested most incumbent political parties—including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party—lost power in the elections following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Modi’s government actually bucked the trend and won its election, albeit without an outright majority.

“Dear Honourable Minister [Ashwini Vaishnaw], Mark’s observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India,” Meta India’s vice president of public policy, Shivnath Thukral, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to criticism from officials in Modi’s government. He continued: “We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for [Meta] and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future.”

Thukral’s public apology on behalf of Zuckerberg and Meta came in response to an X post by Indian Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who blasted the technology billionaire’s comments on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast as “factually incorrect” and “misinformation.”Additionally, India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, led by Nishikant Dubey, demanded an apology from the social media giant.

India has the most Facebook users of any country on Earth. As of last year, there are over 370 million active Facebook users in India.

India’s government had previously implemented stricter regulations on social media through the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, aiming to control speech online.

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Meta has issued an apology after comments by CEO Mark Zuckerberg about India's elections led to threats of legal action from Indian lawmakers. During a recent appearance Zuckerberg made on Joe Rogan's podcast, the Facebook founder and Meta CEO suggested most incumbent political parties—including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party—lost power in the elections following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Modi's government actually bucked the trend and won its election, albeit without an outright majority. show more
January 14, 2025
Politics
War
World

WATCH: Pro-Hamas Demonstrators Heckle Blinken During Gaza Ceasefire Briefing.

The Biden government’s Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was repeatedly heckled by pro-Hamas protestors during a press conference on Tuesday laying out details regarding a pending ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamic terror group that controls Gaza. Blinken, in addition, laid out plans for the rebuilding and future governance of the Gaza territory once hostilities between Hamas and Israel conclude.

While Blinken was speaking, a protester interrupted, accusing him of having a legacy tied to genocide. The protester loudly shouted, “Secretary Blinken, your legacy will be genocide. You will forever be known as Bloody Blinken, Secretary of Genocide. You have the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent people on your hands.” Blinken responded by acknowledging the protester, meekly stating, “Thank you. I respect your views; please allow me to share mine.”

Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas following the latter’s barbaric October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against the Jewish State, pro-Hamas protestors have repeatedly targeted Biden government officials over their perceived support for Israel. Anger at leading national Democrats over what far-left activists call a genocide in Gaza likely cost Vice President Kamala Harris thousands of votes in Michigan—a critical swing state—during the 2024 presidential election.

A CEASEFIRE DEAL?

Blinken’s plan suggests a collaborative approach involving both local and international stakeholders in the governance and restoration of Gaza. The proposed framework aims to address immediate humanitarian needs while laying the groundwork for longer-term stability. However, it is unlikely Israel or Hamas will take up the Biden government plan, with President-elect Donald J. Trump slated to assume control of the White House in less than a week.

Meanwhile, the tentative framework of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to clear the way for an exchange of prisoners and hostages held by the two factions. President-elect Trump has declared the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas to be paramount, suggesting if they fail to return the individuals held since late 2023, the repercussions would be dire.

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The Biden government's Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was repeatedly heckled by pro-Hamas protestors during a press conference on Tuesday laying out details regarding a pending ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamic terror group that controls Gaza. Blinken, in addition, laid out plans for the rebuilding and future governance of the Gaza territory once hostilities between Hamas and Israel conclude. show more
January 14, 2025
William Upton
NatSec
World

UN Chief Claims Trump Can’t Take Back Panama Canal.

The Secretary-General for the United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, claims President-elect Donald J. Trump cannot take back the Panama Canal. While speaking with the media, Dominguez, a Panamanian national, insisted on Tuesday that the critical international shipping waterway “will remain” under his country’s control.

“This is not at the level of the Secretary-General since it is not something that is regulated within the organization, but for me, it is very clear, and it is not a topic of much conversation because the treaties were signed in 1977,” Dominguez said, adding: “The canal passed into the hands of Panama, which continues to operate this vital waterway and will continue to do so.”

Following America’s 2024 elections, President-elect Trump has made a concerted push for the U.S. government to retake control of the Panama Canal, stressing that it was built with American labor at the cost of thousands of American lives. Despite Panama having agreed to cede the former Panama Canal Zone to the U.S. in exchange for a one-time payment and annual annuity in 1903, the late Democratic President Jimmy Carter agreed to give it away to the Central American country in the 1970s.

Trump and others have accused the Panamanian government of allowing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to meddle in the canal’s operations. National security experts warn that increasing Chinese influence and control over the canal threaten U.S. military and economic interests.

Rising canal fees—set to hit a new high this year—could eventually cripple international markets. The Panama Canal is a critical connection point between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Even more concerning is whether the Chinese could use their leverage over the Panamian government to close off the canal to U.S. military transports, making it difficult to reinforce U.S. positions in the Pacific in the event of a conflict with the Chinese communists.

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The Secretary-General for the United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, claims President-elect Donald J. Trump cannot take back the Panama Canal. While speaking with the media, Dominguez, a Panamanian national, insisted on Tuesday that the critical international shipping waterway "will remain" under his country's control. show more
January 14, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
World

Leftist Theater on Brink of Bankruptcy After Hosting Hundreds of Illegals Who Refuse to Leave.

A leftist-run theater is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy after opening its doors to around 250 African migrants who have refused to leave the venue after staying there for five weeks. The Gaîté Lyrique theater in Paris, France, let in around 250 Africans on December 10, when it held a conference of pro-migrant academics and activists. When the conference ended, the migrants refused to leave, and the numbers are said to be steadily increasing, with over 300 now occupying the theater.

Since the theater can no longer operate and put on revenue-generating performances, the management has stated that the venue faces possible bankruptcy. Some have estimated that the theater has lost hundreds of thousands of euros in potential revenues.

“The sanitary conditions are deteriorating day after day, and the teams are facing this situation alone,” the management said. “Although this occupation is forced, it is unthinkable for the Gaîté Lyrique to throw these people out onto the street in the middle of winter,” they added.

Local businesses catering to theater-goers also say they have seen a massive fall in revenues, with one bistro claiming to have lost as much as 30,000 euros in business.

Far-left migrant advocacy groups have organized similar occupations in the past, but usually in public spaces like parks and squares.

France saw over 158,000 asylum applications last year as the country continues to struggle with large numbers of illegal arrivals. Many, however, do not remain in the country long, as their ultimate goal is to reach the United Kingdom by illegally crossing the English Channel.

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A leftist-run theater is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy after opening its doors to around 250 African migrants who have refused to leave the venue after staying there for five weeks. The Gaîté Lyrique theater in Paris, France, let in around 250 Africans on December 10, when it held a conference of pro-migrant academics and activists. When the conference ended, the migrants refused to leave, and the numbers are said to be steadily increasing, with over 300 now occupying the theater. show more
January 14, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
World

Top Brazilian Judge Wants to Ban Bolsonaro From Trump Inauguration.

Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes may prohibit former President Jair Bolsonaro from attending the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump. He has already seized the Brazilian populist leader’s passport.

Bolsonaro demanded the return of his passport after allegedly receiving an invitation to attend the inauguration on January 20, but Justice Moraes stated that Bolsonaro needs to provide further proof of an official invitation for the request to be considered.

The invite presented by Bolsonaro came from his son Eduardo, who received an email invitation to the inauguration in Washington, D.C., but Justice Moraes argued that it was not enough. Former president Bolsonaro is under several investigations in Brazil.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has heavily criticized Supreme Court Justice de Moraes. Last year, the judge temporarily banned X (formerly Twitter) from operating in Brazil. Moraes demanded that X censor accounts on the platform, which were supposedly linked to “digital militias” spreading supposed “fake news” and “misinformation” during Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency.

X and Musk refused to censor the accounts and announced that they would lay off all their staff in Brazil and shut down all operations. Justice de Moraes demanded that X name a legal representative, but Musk said that Brazil had threatened to arrest one of its legal representatives in the past.

The ban was lifted just over a month after its imposition when Justice Moraes announced that X could resume its services as long as it was compliant with Brazilian laws.

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Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes may prohibit former President Jair Bolsonaro from attending the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump. He has already seized the Brazilian populist leader's passport. show more
January 13, 2025
Jack Montgomery
World

Greenland PM Gives Major Indication of Future U.S. Involvement.

Greenland wants to enhance its cooperation with the United States in defense and exploring the island’s vast mining resources, including valuable rare earth minerals. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede appeared to be encouraged by President-elect Donald J. Trump’s overtures to acquire the territory, saying, “This is the first time Greenland has been listened to in an intense way”—an apparent snub to Denmark, which it is currently united with under the Danish crown.

“We need to be calm and take advantage of things and stand together,” Egede said, adding that his government, the Naalakkersuisut, declaring his willingness to open a dialogue with the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has already visited the island and met with locals, pledging the U.S. would treat them well.

Egede has previously said Greenlanders want to be neither Danish nor American but independent. With a population of only around 70,000, the territory may find a protectorate-style arrangement with the U.S. more beneficial than its current relationship with Denmark. Ethnically, the population is overwhelmingly Inuit, with fewer than ten percent of residents being ethnic Danes.

Polls show that a clear majority of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark, but not if it lowers living standards. 

In his latest statement, Egede said, “Greenland’s independence is Greenland’s business, also in relation to the use of its land, so it is also Greenland that will decide what agreement we should come to,” referring in particular to the possible expansion of the U.S. military presence on the island.

Image by NordForsk/Terje Heiestad.

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Greenland wants to enhance its cooperation with the United States in defense and exploring the island's vast mining resources, including valuable rare earth minerals. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede appeared to be encouraged by President-elect Donald J. Trump's overtures to acquire the territory, saying, "This is the first time Greenland has been listened to in an intense way"—an apparent snub to Denmark, which it is currently united with under the Danish crown. show more
January 11, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
NatSec
World

Russian Wagner Mercenary Arrested Illegally Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border.

Timur Praliev, a mercenary with Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group, according to court records, was arrested while attempting to illegally cross the U.S. southern border on January 4. Found in Praliev’s possession were two passports, $4,000, and a drone.

The Russian mercenary was arrested shortly after he unlawfully crossed the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas. Several weeks ago, Praliev was honored for his combat service by a Russian veterans organization established by President Vladimir Putin. Upon his apprehension by U.S. border patrol agents, Praliev informed them he was a citizen of Kazakhstan. Notably, one of the two foreign identifying documents he carried was a Kazakh passport.

Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group has been designated as a criminal organization by the United States Treasury Department and has been the subject of international sanctions. The mercenary organization’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was initially a key ally of Putin and was a pivotal figure during the initial stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, in the summer of 2023, Prigozhin turned his Wagner mercenaries on Russia and began a surprise march to Moscow. Despite quick gains inside Russia and meeting little resistance, the mercenary leader eventually halted his military campaign and surrendered to Russian authorities. Prigozhin was spared but later killed in a suspicious plane crash, along with most of Wagner’s leadership. President Putin alleges the passengers were drunk, on drugs, and playing with grenades, causing an explosion.

The apprehension of a decorated Wagner mercenary attempting to enter the U.S. illegally is concerning, as members of the paramilitary group have extensive training and combat experience across the globe. Wagner has played a critical role in Russia’s ongoing proxy war with France on the African continent.

Praliev was sentenced to time served on January 7. His current whereabouts are unknown.

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Timur Praliev, a mercenary with Russia's Wagner paramilitary group, according to court records, was arrested while attempting to illegally cross the U.S. southern border on January 4. Found in Praliev's possession were two passports, $4,000, and a drone. show more
Alice Weidel
January 9, 2025
Jack Montgomery
TECH
World

Musk Interviews German Populist Leader.

Tech mogul Elon Musk hosted a live-streamed conversation with Alice Weidel, the co-leader and chancellor candidate of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on his X platform on Thursday, showcasing the populist, anti-mass migration party’s message to a vast audience just before crucial national elections. This event, which attracted around 200,000 live viewers, underscores Musk’s commitment to using his platform to champion populist parties, emphatically endorsing the AfD by saying it is the only party that can “save Germany.”

Musk and Weidel aligned on several key issues: they both criticized Germany’s high taxation, excessive immigration, and the misguided decision to phase out nuclear energy, especially in light of the war in Ukraine cutting off Germany’s supply of Russian gas. Musk, partly of German descent, has significant business interests in Germany and agreed with Weidel that the country’s bureaucracy and regulations stifle business.

The AfD is being monitored by Germany’s domestic intelligence for alleged extremism, and the country’s left and notionally center-right parties are combining against it. Weidel, who used Musk’s platform to stress that the AfD is a libertarian and conservative party, views this surveillance as an unjust political smear campaign aimed at suppressing the AfD’s growing popularity.

Despite the accusations of extremism, Weidel told Musk the AfD is actually the “only protector of the Jewish people” in Germany, with the Islamic immigration enabled by the other parties leaving German Jews increasingly under threat. Additionally, she praised Musk’s commitment to free speech, noting that Adolf Hitler curtailed such freedoms soon after gaining power. She and Musk also negatively emphasized the socialist policies of Hitler’s Nazi party, formally the National Socialist German Workers’ Party.

Musk and Weidel alluded to efforts by the European Union (EU) to enforce censorship on X under its Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission is also probing whether X policies on, for instance, blue ‘verified’ checkmarks, alleging they may not align with European transparency and accountability standards.

The AfD is polling in second place ahead of federal elections set for February 23, 2025, behind only the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), formerly led by Angela Merkel.

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

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Tech mogul Elon Musk hosted a live-streamed conversation with Alice Weidel, the co-leader and chancellor candidate of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on his X platform on Thursday, showcasing the populist, anti-mass migration party's message to a vast audience just before crucial national elections. This event, which attracted around 200,000 live viewers, underscores Musk's commitment to using his platform to champion populist parties, emphatically endorsing the AfD by saying it is the only party that can "save Germany." show more