US citizens staying in Belarus are strongly advised to leave the country as soon as possible. This is stated in the revised recommendations of the United States Department of State. | The State Department stressed that US citizens should refrain from traveling to Belarus, and those who are already in the country are strongly advised to leave it as soon as possible. At the same time, the agency warns that it is important for Americans staying in the republic to avoid mass events and demonstrations, reconsider the issue of transporting electronic devices and exit social networks. It is also recommended to draw up an action plan in case of unforeseen circumstances and register in the STEP system for prompt notification and emergency communication. [...] It is noted that the main risks for US citizens may be "arbitrary detention," "poor conditions of detention," and "the possibility of closing border crossings without warning." Washington also recalled that in case of detention of US citizens in Belarus, the provision of assistance by the American authorities may be severely limited.

■ NATO's secret plan: Is Poland being prepared for a proxy war to replace Ukraine? (EurAsiaDaily)
■ The media revealed what Poland is secretly preparing for (12/21/24)

Slovakia’s Robert Fico has shared details of his discussions with the Russian president | After meeting Putin at the Kremlin on Sunday evening, Fico posted a comment on Facebook, providing insight into their discussion and noting that EU leaders were informed of the purpose of his trip in advance. [...] “My meeting today was a response to Ukrainian President [Vladimir] Zelensky, who, answering my personal question on Thursday, said that he was against any transit of gas through Ukraine to our territory,” Fico explained. He noted that the Ukrainian leader has also been lobbying his EU supporters to impose sanctions against the Russian nuclear energy sector. [...] Fico stated he had a “long conversation” with Putin, during which they discussed “mutual relations” between Slovakia and Russia, which he intends to “standardize.” They also “exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine” and explored possibilities for reaching “an early peaceful end” to the conflict.

The Nazi Regime of Ukraine has launched at least EIGHT suicide Drones against civilian apartment Buildings in Kazan; the fifth largest city in Russia. Kazan is about 700km east of Moscow. | In the morning, Ukrainian "Lyuty" drones attacked Kazan. One hit the 37-story residential complex "Lazurnye Nebesa". As a result, a fire broke out. Another drone hit the 23-story residential complex "Manhattan" and a five-story building on Klara Zetkin Street. ● It is worth noting that this is another targeted strike on civilian targets and the first at such a distance. Now people are sitting in the metro until the "Carpet" plan is lifted in Kazan. ● There is nothing surprising about the flights of UAVs like "Lyuty" at such a distance. They fly at an extremely low altitude. Before the flight, they are programmed with the entire route, with the locations of air defense systems and other military facilities. ● Why do you think Western intelligence satellites take pictures of different areas in different parts of Russia every day? Precisely to understand how drones can go around objects and fly to their target. Their low altitude reduces their visibility and detectability. ● Ukraine takes advantage of the fact that Russia’s territory is vast and it is extremely difficult to deploy air defense systems and radars throughout the entire territory in war conditions, so Ukraine sends its drones to strike civilians.

Community pages face closure as lengthy new rules ‘create disproportionate liability’ | Hundreds of websites will be shut down on the day that Britain’s Online Safety Act comes into effect, in what are believed to be the first casualties of the new internet laws. ● Microcosm, a web forum hosting service that runs 300 sites including cycling forums and local community hubs, said that the sites would go offline on March 16, the day that Ofcom starts enforcing the Act. ● Its owner said they were unable to comply with the lengthy requirements of the Act, which created a “disproportionately high personal liability”. ● The new laws, which were designed to crack down on illegal content and protect children, threaten fines of at least £18m for sites that fail to comply with the laws.

■ UK’s Online Censorship Law Drives Small Websites to Shut Down (Reclaim The Net)
■ EU wants sanctions against “Kremlin propagandists” (FrontNieuws)

December 20th, 2024 | War has been declared on the Russian world today. This was announced at a meeting of the State Council for the Support of Russian Families by Russian President Vladimir Putin. 💬 "Colleagues from the Duma spoke and said that war had been declared on the Russian world. So it is," Putin said, quoted by RIA Novosti.

As EADaily reported, a meeting of the State Council on supporting Russian families was held today. At the meeting, the head of state proposed discussing a number of issues, in particular, more active participation of business and employers in solving the problems of the demographic agenda, the inclusion in national projects of measures aimed at improving the quality of life of families with children, supporting the aspirations of young parents to have children early.

■ Putin agrees 'Russian world' now faces war (TASS)
■ Русскому миру сегодня объявлена война, заявил Путин (РИА Новости)

■ Ukraine Uses HIMARS against Russian College, Elementary School, and Firehouse in Kursk (Hal Turner) | At least six people, including a child, were killed in Russia's Rylsk, in the Kursk region, as a result of a missile strike by Ukrainian militants, acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein said. Ten people, including a 13-year-old child, were taken to hospital with injuries, Khinshtein added. A strike on Rylsk was carried out with HIMARS MLRS [...] Ukrainian forces are making repeated attempts to launch missile attacks on Russia's territory of the Kursk region.

■ Five dead after Ukrainian strikes using US-made HIMARS – Russian governor (RT)
✅ NATO complicit in the terrorist murder of Russia’s General Igor Kirillov (SCF Editorial)

Poland may be preparing to replace Ukraine in a proxy war against Russia by NATO decree, the InfoBRICS publication wrote. 💬 "Poland's concern about preserving its military reserves may be related to NATO's directive on Warsaw's preparations for war," the piece said.

It is noted that Poland has recently started to receive more assistance from the United States, which may also indicate its special role in NATO's possible military plans after the defeat of Ukraine. ● In an interview with Radio Zet on December 19, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski said the country has practically run out of aid to Kyiv. He also emphasized that Poland would not send its MiG-29 aircraft to Kyiv, saying that such a move in the current circumstances would make the country vulnerable and jeopardize Polish national security. ● Russia believes that arms deliveries to Ukraine hinder the settlement, directly involve NATO countries in the conflict, and are "playing with fire". Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any cargoes that contain arms for Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russia. He said the US and NATO are directly involved in the conflict, including not only by supplying weapons but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries. The Kremlin said that pumping weapons into Ukraine from the West was not conducive to negotiations and would have a negative effect. (Translation: DeepL + Grammarly)

Finian Cunningham | The reveling by the British news media over the assassination of a top Russian general in Moscow is revealing in several ways. | The reveling by the British news media over the assassination of a top Russian general in Moscow is revealing in several ways. ■ First of all, it is a sickening display of wretched so-called journalism. The celebratory tone in British media outlets at the sight of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov’s bloodied corpse lying in the snow speaks volumes of a despicable lack of respect. It says something about the depraved depth of British culture. ■ By comparison, the reporting of the assassination by American media outlets was relatively mundane and matter-of-fact. Not so in Britain. The British media were almost euphoric in their reaction. ■ The Pentagon’s response was significant. Spokesman Patrick Ryder denied any U.S. involvement in the killing. He said the Americans were not forewarned about the assassination and he added that the United States did not support such action. Of course, such denials should always be treated with skepticism. However, while the Americans had the decency to remain reserved, the British were giddy in their ghoulishness.

✅ Who is the world's most dangerous terrorist organization? (Leo Hohmann)

The head of the Kyiv regime, Vladimir Zelensky, actually offered the Slovak Prime Minister 500 million euros from Russian assets if he voted for Ukraine's membership in NATO. This was stated by Robert Fico after a closed meeting in Brussels, which was attended by the leaders of the EU countries. | At a private meeting in Brussels, where even European leaders were not allowed to use mobile phones, Zelensky asked Fico if he would vote for Ukraine's membership in NATO if he received 500 million euros from Russian assets. 💬 "As we approached the end of the meeting, Zelensky... asked me if I would vote for Ukraine's membership in NATO if he gave me 500 million euros of Russian assets. Of course, I immediately replied that never. You just know my opinion about Ukraine's membership in NATO. And it's strange that he asked me such a question because he knows very well that inviting Ukraine to NATO is absolutely unacceptable," said Fico, quoted by Sputnik Near Abroad."

Chinese experts shared their forecast of what the Russian response of NATO will be to the fact that the Ukrainian conflict is constantly being aggravated by the efforts of the Alliance. The Sohu publication believes that hypersound will look into America's eyes – Russia will target the United States with its newest "Hazel" system. | Experts of the Chinese edition are sure that it is America that is engaged in the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict (however, by throwing firewood into other "bonfires" in the world). At the same time, Washington does not really think that this "fire" can get out of control and then it will not seem much to anyone. ■ Meanwhile, Sohu analysts point out, Russia can respond powerfully to Western attempts to attack it. And not only. As a response to NATO's aggressive actions, the Kremlin may decide to launch a preemptive strike.

The Russian armed forces have launched a massive strike with long-range weapons in response to Kiev's shelling of on the Kamensky chemical plant in Russia's Rostov Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. | The Russian armed forces have launched a massive strike with long-range weapons in response to Kiev's shelling of on the Kamensky chemical plant in Russia's Rostov Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

💬 "In response to the actions of the Kiev regime, supported by Western curators, this morning a massive strike with long-range precision weapons was carried out on the Ukrainian Security Service command post, the Kiev design bureau 'Luch.' which designs and manufactures the Neptune missile systems, ground-based cruise missiles MLRS Vilkha, as well as the position of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system," the ministry said in a statement.

All goals of the strike have been achieved and all objects have been hit, the statement read.

According to her, the EU accounts for 47% of weapons sent to Ukraine with around 40% being provided by the United States | The European Union has already spent more than 130 billion euro to support Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after the European Council meeting in Brussels. [...] In her words, the European Union delivered more weapons to Ukraine than the United States did. According to von der Leyen, the EU accounts for 47% of weapons sent to Ukraine with around 40% being provided by the United States.

■ West has pumped over $300 billion into Ukraine – Orban (RT)

There is no information made public that can tell what exploded inside the military boundaries south of the headquarters of Russia's Northern Fleet. | A video recording was posted Wednesday evening on social media in Murmansk of what appears to be a massive explosion in the horizon. The Barents Observer has geolocated the filming position from Skalnaya street No. 9, which is on the top of the hill in Oktyabrskiy District. The explosion, which lasts only a few seconds, can be seen in a distance of several kilometers to the north. Here are dozens of military objects, including the Severomorsk-1 naval airbase and weapons' storages and bunkers.

Marine Le Pen told the newspaper that she believes US President-elect Donald Trump can get Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky to hold talks and a diplomatic solution will be found | Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Rally parliamentary faction, believes that the West is pushing Ukraine to continue the conflict with Russia. ● "This war will end," she said in an interview with Spain’s El Pais. "I said it from the beginning: Ukraine cannot win this conflict," she pointed out. "We are pushing it to continue the war," Le Pen added. "The only way for Ukraine to win would be for NATO to intervene, and that would be World War III," the politician emphasized. ● She told the newspaper that she believes US President-elect Donald Trump can get Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky to hold talks and a diplomatic solution will be found. Le Pen also does not believe that the Russian president "has ambitions" to "conquer Europe." She added that Putin has managed to restore Russia's important role on the world stage.

■ British PM Kier Starmer Wants To ‘Maximize Putin’s Pain’ (thepeoplesvoice.tv)
■ Moscow accuses Kiev of using white phosphorous (RT)
■ Polish President on Possible Deployment of Troops to Ukraine (Sputnik)

Russia's Federal Security Service says the attacker, reportedly recruited by Ukrainian special services, was apprehended following a joint investigation. | Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday the detention of the individual responsible for the attack that killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian armed forces' Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops. The attacker, reportedly recruited by Ukrainian special services, was apprehended following a joint investigation, the FSB confirmed. ● Kirillov and his aide, Maj. I.V. Polikarpov, were killed in a bomb explosion early Tuesday in Moscow, according to the Russian Investigative Committee. [...] In a statement, the FSB said it has "identified and detained a citizen of Uzbekistan, born in 1995, who detonated a homemade explosive device near a residential building on Ryazanskiy Prospekt in Moscow," which resulted in the killing of Kirillov and Polikarpov. [...] To monitor the general's residence, the perpetrator rented a car equipped with a Wi-Fi camera, transmitting real-time footage to his handlers in Ukraine, the FSB noted. It revealed that the attacker was promised a $100,000 reward and relocation to an EU country in exchange for carrying out the assassination.

■ Russia CAPTURES Bomber-Assassin; Hired By Ukraine, Paid $100,000 + EU Passport (Hal Turner)
■ What is known about apprehension of perpetrator of terror attack on Russian general (TASS)
■ Kiev Killed Kirillov For Exposing West’s Hand, Dirty Money in Ukraine Biolab Scheme - Ex-CIA Officer (Sputnik)
■ Head of Russian Chemical Defense Forces killed in Moscow explosion (12/17/24)
✅ Moscow vows to avenge death of officer who blew the whistle on U.S. biolabs operating in Ukraine (Leo Hohman)
✅ US keeps silent its money turns Zelensky regime into terrorist cell — Russian MFA (Maria Zakharova)(TASS)

The Times considers the terrorist attack against Kirillov a "legitimate act of defense": Medvedev's response made British journalists uncomfortable | Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev dedicated a new post in telegram to the nonsense of the British edition of The Times. After the rebuke of the Russian politician in London, many people should feel uneasy. ■ The day before, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection forces of the Russian army, General Igor Kirillov, was blown up in Moscow, and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov died with him. The security forces detained a migrant performer from Uzbekistan, who worked on the instructions of the Ukrainian owners, who promised him 100 thousand dollars and citizenship in an EU country. The British edition of The Times called the terrorist act nothing less than a "legitimate act of defense." Politician Dmitry Medvedev said that he could not ignore this publication of the publication.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praises the slain Head of Russian Chemical Defense Forces for his tireless efforts to expose Western wrongdoing, particularly NATO provocations and US biolab operations, in Syria and Ukraine. | Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the Troops of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense of the Russian armed forces, was killed in an explosion in Moscow earlier on Tuesday. A criminal investigation has been launched in connection with the incident according to the Russian Investigative Committee. The explosion on Ryazanskiy Prospekt reportedly killed two people, both military personnel, Kirillov and his assistant.

■ Russia’s Medvedev threatens punishment over attack on senior general Kirillov (TASS)
■ Key Revelations Slain Gen. Kirillov Exposed About Pentagon’s Biolabs Scheme (Sputnik)
■ General Igor Kirillov and His Assistant Killed in Moscow Blast (Sputnik)
■ What we know about Russia’s chemical defense chief killed in Moscow blast (RT)
■ FACTBOX: Key details about the attack on Russia’s nuclear defense chief in Moscow (TASS)
■ Those involved in the terrorist attack against General Kirillov were named (kp.ru)
✅ "Ребята, давайте вы все умрёте!": России пора сменить дискурс в обращениях к Западу (Елена Панина)

As the EU representative said, the foreign ministers will approve the 15th package of sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, as well as a "new blacklist" for Moscow's alleged "hybrid actions" | Foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries are to gather in Brussels for their last meeting this year on Monday. Its agenda includes military assistance to Ukraine, the situation in Syria after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule, and possible sanctions against the Georgian authorities. The meeting will be chaired by the new head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. ● As an EU representative told reporters in Brussels earlier, the conflict in Ukraine and military aid to Kiev remain an absolute priority for the EU. According to the European diplomat, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga will participate in the meeting remotely and inform about the situation on the front and Kiev's needs.

■ 40,000 NATO soldiers in Kiev & Putin's Tough Message (Tsargrad)

"This is quite possible," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said | Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has not ruled out the emergence of new regions in Russia. ● "Actually, this experience (of Donbass and Novorossiya’s integration - TASS) may be useful in the future as well, if new but very close-by regions appear in our country soon. This is quite possible," he said at the 22nd United Russia party congress. ● The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions became part of Russia following referendums held there September 23-27, 2022. Crimea and Sevastopol returned to Russia following the March 2014 referendum held amid the coup in Ukraine.

■ More regions could be added to Russia – Medvedev (RT)

The two ships had 29 crew members on board when calls for help were issued, the Russian Emergency Ministry has said | Two tankers carrying oil products are sinking in the Kerch Strait, the passage that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, according to the Russian Emergency Ministry. ● The Volganeft 212 and the Volganeft 239 sent out distress signals and requested assistance amid high winds and powerful waves. The Russian water transport agency has said a total of 29 crew members were on board the two vessels. ● According to Russian media reports, powerful waves struck the tankers several kilometers off the Black Sea coast. The Volganeft 212, carrying more than 4,000 tons of fuel oil, has run aground, and the Volgoneft 239 is drifting after sustaining damage. ● Emergency rescue helicopters have flown response teams to the Kerch Strait area to assist the vessels. Their efforts, however, have been hindered by worsening weather.

Russian air defense shot down a Su-25 with NATO shells on board. An unexpected confession was made in Kiev | Kiev made an unexpected confession about the Ukrainian plane destroyed near Kherson today. It turned out that the Russian air defense shot down the Su-25 with NATO shells on board. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that their pilots use "all foreign-made weapons of destruction." And these funds, we recall, are supplied to the Ukrainian troops by NATO countries. ● In the Telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they suddenly admitted that their pilots "work on the edge of possibilities, using all means of destruction of foreign production." This confession was made immediately after the department reported the death of their pilot today. ● There are few details about the identity of the military pilot — only that today he "did not return from a combat mission," is young and attached to the 299th tactical aviation Brigade of the Air Forces of Ukraine.

■ The Armed Forces of Ukraine are transferring instructors from NATO to the front line in the Kursk region (Tsargrad)

A nine-year-old boy was killed and his mother and baby sister wounded in attack in Belgorod Region, Vyacheslav Gladkov has said | A nine-year-old child was killed and his mother and infant sister wounded after a Ukrainian drone struck a private home in Russia’s Belgorod Region, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has said. The UAV targeted a residential area in the village of Maysky, located 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the border with Ukraine, Gladkov wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

"It's a strange thing. Usually such things are not said ahead of time." Military observer Yuriy Podolyaka commented on the hype around the fact that "40 thousand NATO soldiers will enter Ukraine." | The military observer recalled that French President Macron was one of the first to drop "this story" so far. However, in Poland they said that such games are not played. However, for example, the Italians did not mind. While they are supposedly deciding and agreeing on something there, a reasonable question arises - why did these gentlemen think that this would suit Russia?

IDF attacks targeted command posts and military warehouses, Beirut-based TV channel Al Mayadeen has noted | Israeli aircraft have bombed Syrian army facilities in Latakia and Tartus provinces, where Russian military bases are located, a Lebanese television channel Al Mayadeen reported, citing a correspondent. ● According to the channel, the strikes targeted command posts and military warehouses used by the Syrian army, however, no information on possible casualties was provided. ● Russian military forces are present in Syria at Khmeimim Air Base and a logistics support center in Tartus, located in the western part of the country along the Mediterranean coast. In 2017, Moscow and Damascus agreed to station Russian troops at these bases for a period of 49 years.

■ Erdogan announced plans to annex territories of Syria to Turkey (GlobalEuroNews)
■ Jewish Agenda: Trump Transition Team Considering Strikes on Iran (Antiwar)
■ Israel launches ‘one of the largest’ attacks on Syria in history (12/10/24)

✅ Israel Gives Biden His Marching Orders: Syrian land will be annexed into “Greater” Israel (Philip Giraldi)
✅ The Yinon Thesis Vindicated: Neocons, Israel, and the Fragmentation of Syria (Stephen J. Sniegoski)(08/15/12)

A total of 224 members of the 300-member electoral college cast their votes in favor of Kavelashvili | Mikhail Kavelashvili representing the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party was elected on Saturday as the sixth president of Georgia, according to results of the vote count, which was broadcast live on the Georgian parliament's official website. ● A total of 224 members of the 300-member electoral college cast their votes in favor of Kavelashvili, who needed to get two thirds of the votes to win in the first round of the election. ● "According to the results provided by the secretary general [of the Central Election Commission], Mikhail Kavelashvili has been elected president," CEC Chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili said as he signed the final election protocol. ● Georgia held the presidential election on Saturday, December 14. The country’s new president had been for the first time elected by an electoral college and not through a popular vote. The inauguration ceremony for the new president of Georgia who will be elected for a five-year period, is set for December 29.

■ Georgian Dream Candidate Kavelashvili Elected Georgian President With 224 Votes (MEDIA)
■ Former Man City player elected Georgian president (RT)
■ US Doesn't Need Independent Georgia, Will Foment Coup in Tbilisi (Ekaterina Blinova)

Ukraine has launched what is reported to be "over 200" drones in widespread attacks against Russia.Russian air defenses are engaging the attacking drones. From social media, a Ukrainian UAV struck a Russian oil depot in Oryol Oblast a short time ago.

■ Russian Aviation Destroys Three Ukrainian Drone Deposits (Sputnik)

Athlete from Lithuania was disqualified from the World Fitness Championships in Hungary for wearing a “Let’s Make Russia Small Again” T-shirt | The Russian national team is participating in the competition, and although the athletes were supposed to be presented as neutrals, the announcer announced them as Russians - they were wearing T-shirts with the name of their country. ▪️ As a sign of protest, Cornelia Dudayte wore a T-shirt with the inscription “Make Russia small again.” However, the organizers demanded that it be removed, considering that it insulted Russian athletes. After the degenerate refused, she was disqualified. ▪️ Later, Dudaite’s decision was supported by the national federation - all 28 Lithuanian athletes withdrew from the competition.

It began shortly after Midnight eastern US time: A large and violent attack by Russian forces against numerous targets inside Ukraine. | The Russian Defense Ministry made clear "This is retaliation for using U.S.-supplied ATACMS against Taganrog on Dec. 11." 93 missiles and more than 200 drones showered several Ukrainian regions with warheads, plunging them in suffocating blackouts. ● Word of the pending attack came around 10:00 PM eastern us time last night when as many as 8 Russian Tu-95s long-range bombers took to the air, all of them conducted a launch maneuver. Some such attack bombers took off from as far away as Murmansk Russia. There were also concerns of "Iskander" missiles being launched from Taganrog. Reports also confirmed "Kalibr" Missile carriers departing from Novorossiysk.

⚡ Urgent: Russian Missiles on the Move - Country-wide (Hal Turner)
■ An American target in Ukraine hit? The US ambassador was outraged by Moscow's "behavior" (ukraina.ru)
■ Russia hit the airport in Kiev with missiles, where F-16 pilots were being trained (kp.ru)
■ Putin's special address. After a massive strike on Ukraine and the disclosure of the DPRK's MTR (tsargradtv)
■ Ukraine strikes Russia with US-made ATACMS missiles (IMAGE) (12/12/24)

Over a week after former prime minister Michel Barnier was overthrown by Parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron picked François Bayrou as his replacement. | You can share an article by clicking on the share icons at the top right of it. ● French President Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou as prime minister on Friday, December 13, over a week after lawmakers voted to oust conservative ex-prime minister Michel Barnier. A heavyweight politician, Bayrou heads the centrist MoDem party who has been allied to Macron since he swept to power in the 2017 election campaign.

💬 "The President of the Republic has appointed Mr. François Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government," the French presidency said in a statement, giving no more details. Bayrou is the sixth prime minister under Macron.

Earlier Friday, Le Monde learned that Macron and Bayrou had a tense meeting after the president informed Bayrou he would not be named prime minister. Bayrou threatened to leave the coalition, and the president changed his mind, deciding to appoint him after all. ● Bayrou, 73, was acquitted in February after a seven-year-long case over the fraudulent employment of parliamentary assistants by his party, opening up a potential return to government. (Prosecutors appealed and a new trial is to be held, at a date yet to be decided.) In 2017, he served as Macron's first justice minister but was replaced after just one month because of ethics concerns over the case. He has also been mayor of the southwestern city of Pau since 2014.

■ Macron appoints centrist ally François Bayrou as France's fourth prime minister in 2024 (Le Monde English)

The U.S. just STOLE, and sent, $20 billion to Ukraine, using cash from frozen Russian assets. | Russia’s reaction? Calling it “simply robbery” and threatening to snatch Western assets in return. Moscow is accusing the U.S. of cooking up “Russophobic” moves before Biden hands over the White House. The U.S. says the funds fulfill a G7 promise to back Ukraine’s fight against Russia, and Moscow is not taking it lightly. Hal Turner Editorial Opinion: There is no authority under US law or under International law, for one country to "seize" the sovereign wealth funds of any other country, whether there is a war going on (Ukraine) or not. The US just did exactly that. This is outright theft. Brought to you by the same people who just overthrew the government of Syria last weekend. Miscreants, Murderers and Thieves: That is the United States Federal Government.

■ Moscow slams decision to grant Kiev loan funded by Russian frozen assets (TASS)
■ US loan to Ukraine is ‘theft’ of Russian money – deputy FM (RT.com)