Report: Iran sees fresh ceasefire as a chance to take stock, rebuild Hezbollah

Report: Iran sees fresh ceasefire as a chance to take stock, rebuild Hezbollah

 Times of Israel is liveblogging Sunday

Iran sees the four-day-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as a chance to rebuild the Lebanon-based terror organization, according to sources close to the group quoted by the Washington Post.

The sources say that the truce gives Iran a chance to take stock of what was previously its strongest proxy in the region, rebuild, and try to restore deterrence.

The sources quoted by the Washington Post say that Hezbollah was expecting more support from Iran’s other proxies in the region during Israel’s military campaign against its sites across Lebanon in recent months.

“Lebanon was at its most vulnerable during heavy bombings, yet support from other members of the resistance axis, including Yemen and Iraq, was minimal at best,” one of the sources close to Hezbollah is quoted as saying.

Israel dealt several significant blows to Hezbollah during the war, including killing the group’s long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah in September, as well as many other top-ranking officials.

“Iran is prepared to allocate funds for reconstruction and to ensure Hezbollah’s survival, as well as to maintain support within the Shiite community,” the source adds.

Iran welcomed the ceasefire when it came into force on Wednesday, while also indicating that the development could influence its plans to avenge an October Israeli strike on the country.

Orban: Dead Western soldiers in Ukraine a sign of ‘dangerous escalation’

Dead Western soldiers in Ukraine a sign of ‘dangerous escalation’ – Orban

Via RT

The involvement of foreign troops in hostilities indicates that the conflict is expanding, the Hungarian prime minister has warned

The reported presence of Western soldiers among the casualties in Ukraine marks a dangerous escalation and risks the “expansion of the war,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.

In an interview with Kossuth radio on Friday, Orban described the current state of affairs as paradoxical, stating that while peace appears closer than ever, the situation has never been as dangerous.

“According to Russian reports, American and French soldiers died in airstrikes carried out [by the Russians] on the territory of Ukraine. That means there are Western soldiers there,” he said.

“So we are in a very dangerous situation, because people with military status from Western Europe or the United States can die in Ukraine today. This is what happened. We are praying for them, of course, this is a great loss for everyone, but it clearly shows the danger of escalation, thus the expansion of the war.”

Earlier this week, Moscow launched a series of retaliatory strikes in response to Kiev using Western-supplied long-range weapons for attacks deep beyond Russia’s internationally recognized borders.

The strikes were launched after Washington and London removed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles respectively. Russian forces hit the positions of US-made missile launchers and facilities being operated by foreign instructors and mercenaries, the defence ministry said.

Moscow has repeatedly said that foreign military personnel are fighting alongside Ukraine’s regular army and participating in cross-border raids. According to the foreign ministry, a group of fighters eliminated during an incursion into Bryansk Region last month included US, Polish, and Canadian citizens.

Russian officials have repeatedly described foreign mercenaries operating in the conflict zone as a “legitimate target” for the military, while accusing NATO of direct involvement in the hostilities.

During the interview, Orban also criticized the EU for prolonging the conflict, referring to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday to expand military aid to Kiev. This included additional supplies of long-range missiles. He called the move “depressing,” as it indicates that many EU leaders “want to continue the war and even increase its intensity.”

He also highlighted a lack of an immediate impact on the Ukraine crisis from the election victory of Donald Trump in the US, who promised to end the conflict in 24 hours, and noted that the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden maintains its pro-war stance.

Moscow considers the Ukraine conflict to be a US-driven proxy war against Russia, which has escalated into a de facto global confrontation, after Western nations authorized Kiev to launch long-range attacks deep inside the country using donated weapons.

Did Russia and China Sever NATO Cables to Block an Attack and Delay World War 3?

Did Russia and China Sever NATO Cables to Block an Attack and Delay World War 3?

Jason Sullivan

In a move that could have seismic implications for NATO’s strategic capabilities, two critical undersea communication cables in the Baltic Sea—lifelines of military coordination among NATO allies—were severed in what increasingly appears to be a calculated act of hybrid warfare. The timing of these incidents, coming mere hours after the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles against Russian targets, raises the unmistakable specter of a coordinated response by Russia, with China’s complicity, aimed at halting NATO’s ability to act decisively during a crucial moment in this escalating conflict.

The severing of these cables appears to be more than a mere act of sabotage. It may well represent a brilliant and calculated geopolitical move designed to delay NATO’s escalation until President Donald J. Trump, known for his aversion to endless wars and commitment to diplomacy, is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025.

• November 16, 2024: The Biden administration authorizes Ukraine to employ long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian targets, marking a significant escalation in the U.S.’s involvement in the war.
• November 17, 2024: The first of two undersea cables, the BCS East-West Interlink connecting Lithuania and Sweden, is severed.
• November 18, 2024: The C-Lion1 cable, which links Finland and Germany, is also cut.

The proximity of these events is impossible to ignore. Within 48 hours of the Biden administration’s decision, NATO’s communication capabilities were significantly disrupted in a strategic region critical to European and global security.

Enter the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3. Anchored suspiciously in international waters near the sites of both cable cuts, this vessel has been identified as a potential actor in the disruptions. Investigators suspect the ship’s massive anchor, potentially weighing several tons, was deliberately dragged across the seabed, ripping through these vital cables.

Despite Sweden’s urgent requests, the ship has remained anchored in place, with no indication that China will permit it to move into Swedish waters for inspection. Nor has any authority been allowed to board the vessel. This steadfast refusal to cooperate heightens suspicions of China’s involvement in what could be a coordinated act of sabotage in league with Russia.

The severing of the C-Lion1 and BCS East-West Interlink cables has left NATO temporarily reliant on slower and less secure backup systems, such as satellite communications. These cables are not mere civilian communication lines; they are the backbone of NATO’s real-time military coordination between its Nordic and Baltic allies. By severing these lines, Russia and China have potentially achieved several strategic objectives:

Preventing a Coordinated NATO Attack:

The ATACMS authorization opened the door for Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory with precision-guided missiles, a move that likely prompted Moscow to fear an immediate escalation. By disrupting NATO’s ability to coordinate long-range strikes and joint operations, Russia has effectively bought time to regroup and respond without the looming threat of synchronized NATO aggression.

Demonstrating NATO’s Vulnerability:

This act underscores NATO’s reliance on undersea infrastructure and its vulnerability to hybrid warfare. The inability to restore real-time communication quickly between key member states like Finland, Germany, Lithuania, and Sweden places NATO in a precarious position during this critical window.

Delaying Escalation Until January 2025:

With President Donald Trump poised to take office in less than two months, Russia and China may see this as an opportunity to stall NATO’s war machine. Trump’s track record of avoiding entanglements and seeking diplomatic solutions could mean a potential cooling of tensions in the new year—a stark contrast to the escalation strategy pursued under the Biden administration.

How Critical Were These Cables?

• C-Lion1 (Finland-Germany): A high-capacity line enabling secure communications and data transfer between Nordic countries and NATO’s central command in Germany. This cable is integral for military logistics and real-time decision-making.
• BCS East-West Interlink (Lithuania-Sweden): Provides vital connectivity between the Baltic states and NATO-aligned Sweden, crucial for regional security in a region bordering Russia.

The loss of these cables has effectively hampered NATO’s ability to synchronize responses, share intelligence, and execute operations in the Baltic Sea, a theater of immense strategic importance. For Russia, this creates a temporary but critical advantage.

The methods used—deliberately dragging a multi-ton anchor across undersea cables—are both rudimentary and effective. Given the size of the anchor and the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea, the likelihood of completely severing these cables was extraordinarily high. This was not an act of chance; it was a calculated move designed to ensure maximum disruption.

Repairing undersea cables of this importance is no small feat. Current estimates suggest that full restoration could take 6–8 weeks, pushing the completion date to late January 2025 or beyond. During this time, NATO’s ability to respond to any Russian aggression remains severely compromised, leaving member states vulnerable and divided.

This delay plays directly into the hands of Russia and China, giving them a critical window to consolidate their positions and deter further escalation.

Conclusion: A Masterstroke of Strategic Timing

The severing of these undersea cables appears to be a masterstroke of hybrid warfare, executed with precision timing and strategic intent. By crippling NATO’s communications and coordination capabilities in the Baltic Sea, Russia and China have forced the alliance to pause and consider its vulnerabilities. This move buys critical time for both nations—time to avoid further escalation until a Trump administration potentially reorients U.S. foreign policy toward diplomacy over war.

The Biden administration’s authorization of ATACMS strikes may have been the spark, but the severing of NATO’s critical infrastructure could very well be the fuse that prevents the flames from spreading further—at least for now.

For Russia and China, this is more than a tactical victory; it is a demonstration of how hybrid warfare can tilt the balance in a conflict where every second counts.

Are we heading towards an Economic Collapse?

Interesting- Inside a Secret Government Warehouse Prepping for Societal Collapse

 Milan Adams 

The government recently hired a firm called Gryphon Scientific to analyze how well the stockpile could respond to a range of health disaster scenarios.

The warehouse Greenfieldboyce visited contains 130 shipping containers, but who will be on the receiving end of these shipping containers during an actual emergency?

“While they do have plans for emergencies, and lists of volunteers, they’re volunteers,” said Paul Petersen, director of emergency preparedness for Tennessee. “And they’re not guaranteed to show up in the time of need.”

While the mainstream media propagandists continue to push the lie of a robust recovering economy, the fact is, we are in some serious fiscal trouble. Economies around the world are crashing, countries are drowning in record amounts of debt, and governments continue to pile on new debt like there’s no tomorrow.

What is an Economic Collapse?

Economic collapse, in its simplest definition, means a sudden and severe drop in currency value, leading to a financial crisis. It usually happens when the country’s economic activities are mismanaged or when an unexpected event throws the country into chaos. Some examples of such events are terrorist attacks, natural disasters, political upheaval, severe social unrest, financial bubbles , a collapse in government, and pandemics.

A look at Prior Economic Disasters, Depressions and Market Collapses

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many instances where countries have experienced an economic collapse, leading to severe consequences such as hyperinflation, high unemployment rates, and poverty. In extreme cases, economic collapse can even lead to a societal breakdown, with people experiencing shortages, social unrest, and struggling to survive.

The earliest recorded economic collapse occurred in 176 BC when the Roman Republic experienced a severe financial crisis that eventually led to massive inflation and debasement of the currency. The government’s response to this crisis was to issue more coins with decreased silver content, resulting in worsening hyperinflation and a sharp decline in the purchasing power of its citizens. This eventually led to social unrest and political instability, eroding the strength of the Roman Empire over time.

Another significant economic collapse occurred during the Great Depression of the 1930s, triggered by the stock market crash of 1929. During this period, businesses failed, banks collapsed, and unemployment soared to unprecedented levels worldwide. The depression had far-reaching negative consequences, some of which ultimately led to World War II.

The most recent collapse occurred in 2008 when the subprime mortgage crisis shook the global financial markets. The crisis began with predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders, high-risk borrowing by homeowners, and the buying and selling of risky loans between financial institutions. When homeowners began to default on their mortgages, banks and insurance companies suffered huge losses, and trust in the financial system evaporated almost overnight. As a result, governments worldwide were forced to intervene to avoid a total collapse of the financial system.

As history shows, it’s not if but when! Therefore, preparing for an economic collapse is vital to your survival, especially in today’s world, where the global economy is interdependent. Any event, even those in other parts of the world, can have a ripple effect on other countries. This article will provide tips on how to prepare for economic collapse.

Are we heading towards an Economic Collapse?

At some point this debt train is going to come to a screeching halt; when that happens we are going to see panic and chaos like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

As we’ve been covering for some time now, a look at the numbers and data shows we are heading for a potential disaster. From a series of high profile banks going bust to record inflation combined with major supply chain shortages, our economy seems to be heading right off the cliff.

The world, especially the United States, is drowning in debt.

The United States, once the world’s shining example of fiscal security and responsibility, has become shackled by a record amount of debt. We are literally drowning in debt.

Over the next ten years, experts think that debt could balloon to over $50 trillion. While that might seem like an insurmountable amount of debt to recover from, the fact is, we have already surpassed that number many times over.

When factoring in unfunded liabilities like Social Security, Medicare, government pension plans and Obamacare, the true debt number is actually much higher. Estimates put the real number somewhere between $222 trillion to $250 trillion.

But it’s not just the government, people are borrowing at record levels as well.

• Household debt increased at the fastest pace in 15 years, partially due to huge increases in credit card usage and mortgage balances.
• Credit card balances rose more than 15% from 2021, the largest annual jump in more than 20 years.
• Total Consumer Debt is now over $2.36 Trillion, an increase of 7.3 per cent in Q3 2023 compared to last year.

The overall Economic numbers are downright Scary!

• Silicon Valley Bank Collapse causing fears of market contagion and Bank Runs
• Stock & crypto markets crash, U.S. debt to soar past $50 trillion within 10 years as Biden to Raise Taxes
• Commercial Real Estate Collapse Latest Warning Sign to Prepare for Major Economic Troubles
• Food Shortages: American Food Supply in Real Danger, expected to get worse in 2023
• US inflation surges as economy becomes top preparedness threat
• U.S. money supply, which measures safe assets households and businesses can use to make payments, has fallen abruptly since March and is negative on a yearly basis for the first time since 2006.
• Mortgage payments as a share of income have doubled from 13% to 26%, and the savings rate has plummeted to almost zero.
• Total household debt increased by 8.5% in 2022 and now stands at a record $16.9 trillion. That’s $2.75 trillion higher than it was pre-pandemic.
• Sales of commercial mortgage bonds have taken a nose dive, plummeting about 85% year-over-year as commercial real estate investors are bracing for what looks like a wave of defaults throughout the commercial real estate industry.

What can you expect during a major Economic Collapse?

• A Run on the Banks: One of the first things you will see is a run on the banks. People are going to be panicking, and they will be doing everything they can to get their hands on cash to buy extra supplies.
• Chaos in the Streets: Once the banks run dry, you will see people turn desperate. The moment they realize the money is gone is the moment you will see widespread chaos sweep throughout the country. Riots, looting, and widespread violence will break out, making self-defense one of your primary concerns.
• Martial Law: When things start to go bad, I believe you will see the government declare a state of emergency or Martial Law. When this happens you will see things like travel restrictions, mandatory curfews, and the suspension of Constitutional rights.

Read the Whole Article

IDF says jets hit Syrian military site being used by Hezbollah to smuggle arms

IDF says jets hit Syrian military site being used by Hezbollah to smuggle arms

Emanuel Fabian

Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck Syrian military infrastructure near border crossings between Syria and Lebanon on Saturday, which the IDF says were being “actively” used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons,  testing the fragile, days-old ceasefire.

“This strike was carried out following the identification of the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah from Syria to Lebanon, even after the ceasefire agreement, and constitutes a threat to the State of Israel, in violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” the military said in a statement.

Syria’s Sham FM radio reported that the strikes targeted the al-Qusayr area. No further details were given and the IDF did not specify what kind of military installation was hit.

There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or activists monitoring the conflict in that country. Hezbollah also did not immediately comment.

The IDF also accused Hezbollah, with the support of the Syrian regime, of using civilian border crossings to continue trying to bring weapons into Lebanon. Israel has vowed to prevent all weapon transfers to Hezbollah amid the ceasefire.

“The IDF will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel that violates the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” the military added.

The Israeli strike inside Syria came as unrest spread across that country, with Syrian insurgents breaching the country’s largest city, Aleppo, in a shock offensive that added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars.

The repeated bursts of violence — with no reports of serious casualties — reflected the uneasy nature of the ceasefire that otherwise appeared to hold. While Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, Lebanon has also accused Israel of the same in the days since it took effect.

Also Saturday, the IDF said it located a cache of weapons belonging to Hezbollah hidden inside a mosque during scans in southern Lebanon in the past day.

IDF says it hit several Lebanon threats that violated ceasefire

The IDF confirms carrying out several strikes in Lebanon today, targeting threats that it says violated the ceasefire agreement.

Earlier today, the military says it identified a group of gunmen in southern Lebanon as they loaded a car up with RPGs, ammunition boxes and other military equipment. A drone then targeted the vehicle.

In another incident, a group of Hezbollah operatives were spotted at a building in southern Lebanon previously known to have been in use by the terror group. The IDF says troops struck the operatives, and later upon reaching the site found numerous weapons.

Additionally, a short while ago, the IDF says fighter jets carried out an airstrike against a Hezbollah facility near Sidon upon identifying activity there. According to the military, the site was used to store rocket launchers.

Separately, the IDF says it carried out a drone strike “deep within Lebanon” against a vehicle that was operating at a Hezbollah missile manufacturing facility.

“The IDF is deployed in southern Lebanon, working against any threat to the State of Israel, and will enforce any violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” the military adds.

Victim of Islamic Terror Convicted on Speech Charge: Germany’s War on Michael Stürzenberger

Victim of Islamic Terror Convicted on Speech Charge: Germany’s War on Michael Stürzenberger

Amy Mek

Despite surviving a brutal knife attack by an Afghan jihadist, Islam critic Michael Stürzenberger has been convicted of ‘incitement to hatred,’ exposing a German justice system that shields Islam and failed immigration policies over its own citizens’ safety.

Michael Stürzenberger, a fearless critic of Islam and defender of Western values, is once again the victim—not just of Islamic violence but of his own left-wing government’s relentless persecution.

After surviving a brutal jihadist attack in Mannheim this May—where an Afghan migrant stabbed him and killed a police officer—Stürzenberger has now been convicted of “incitement to hatred” for his criticism of Islam. This grotesque miscarriage of justice reveals the German state’s twisted priorities: protecting the very ideology that threatens its citizens while silencing those who dare to speak out.

For more than a decade, Michael Stürzenberger has been at the forefront of exposing the dangers of political Islam. As the former federal chairman of the “Die Freiheit” party, he has tirelessly warned against terror-linked mosques, unchecked Islamic migration, and the historical ties between Nazi Germany and Islamic leaders. His public presentations, street interviews, and rallies have educated countless Germans about the existential threat posed by Islam.

Stürzenberger’s unwavering dedication has made him a prime target—not just for jihadists but for the German government itself. His legal battles read like a case study in state overreach. In 2017, he was sentenced to six months in prison (non-custodial) for sharing a historical photograph of a Nazi leader meeting the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem—a factual, unaltered image the state deemed “incitement to hatred.”

This could have been ripped straight from Orwell’s 1984, where Winston Smith is brutalized for possessing a photograph that exposed the Party’s lies—a chilling parallel to Stürzenberger’s punishment for sharing undeniable historical truth that contradicted the state’s preferred narrative.

Similarly, in 2022, he faced a potential seven-month prison sentence for criticizing political Islam, with the court ludicrously arguing that his factual remarks caused “emotional stress” to Muslims.

Despite this persecution, Stürzenberger remains undeterred. His public campaigns have exposed, time and again, the imported hatred that Islamic migrants bring to Germany, including support for violent Sharia punishments such as stoning and hand-chopping and open genocidal hatred toward Jews and Christians. These revelations have enraged both Muslims and the left-wing establishment determined to suppress dissent.

The attack on Stürzenberger in Mannheim was not an isolated act of violence—it was jihad. The Afghan attacker, a known Islamic State sympathizer, unleashed a bloody rampage, injuring several people, including a police officer who later died. Stürzenberger narrowly survived but suffered serious injuries. This horrifying attack was a grim validation of the warnings he has issued for years, yet the German government offered no support or acknowledgment of the ideology behind it.

Instead of holding itself accountable for enabling the attacker through reckless immigration policies, the state has chosen to criminalize Stürzenberger. The verdict against him was handed down on Monday in the Hamburg regional court and related to a rally where he has been said to have denigrated Muslims and migrants. Evidence of his remarks was reported by a left-wing blog on X. His €3,600 fine—calculated as 120 daily rates of €30 each—was a result of the court retrying his case after a formal error in the initial trial allowed an appeal. Although the public prosecutor’s office had sought harsher penalties, both Stürzenberger and the court accepted the revised verdict, making it legally binding. This grotesque inversion of justice effectively punishes him for surviving an act of Islamic terrorism. The German government, it seems, would rather silence critics than address the roots of jihadist violence.

In Germany, this pattern has played out with chilling consistency. In August 2022, Stürzenberger was violently attacked during a presentation in Gladbeck. Muslims and their children hurled objects, including lighters and eggs, at him and his audience. A woman was injured and hospitalized. Yet the government did nothing to protect him. Instead, it has focused on prosecuting him, sending a clear message: dissent against Islamization will not be tolerated.

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To mark Islamaphobia Awareness Month, MP calls for Blasphemy laws to be reinstated to protect Islam

Playing Nuclear Chicken

Playing Nuclear Chicken

TYLER DURDEN

We continue to climb steadily up the World War III escalation ladder.

Last week, Biden foolishly gave Ukraine the green light to strike deep into Russian territory using U.S. missiles.

Now Russia has responded, as Putin promised they would.

On November 21st Russia launched a new hypersonic missile known as the Oreshnik. It is a unique weapon designed to send a clear message.

The Oreshnik utilizes a system similar to MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) technology common on nuclear ICBMs.

This new missile has 6 warheads which each have 6 submunitions. That’s 36 projectiles per missile in total.

Here is a still shot of one of the sets of 6 submunitions just before reaching its target.

It is important to note that the projectiles are not glowing due to rocket engines firing. The warheads separated from the booster engine at a much higher altitude and are now gliding.

The submunitions are glowing due to the plasma bubble created by friction against the dense atmosphere at speeds of around Mach 10 (7,600 mph). That’s 2.1 miles per second.

At such speeds, even if the Oreshnik’s submunitions lack significant explosive payloads, the kinetic energy alone would make for an effective strike asset. This is similar to the sci-fi weapon concept colloquially known as “rods from God”, in which inert tungsten rods are flung down from orbit.

The U.S. and NATO have no defense against the Oreshnik. Targeting 36 independent projectiles traveling at 7,600 mph is a fool’s errand.Striking the missile before the warheads separate is also unlikely, as it has a variable-speed solid rocket engine which makes its trajectory unpredictable.

This new missile adds to Russia’s impressive hypersonic arsenal:

• Kinzhal – Mach 10 air-launched ballistic missile
• Zircon – Mach 9 ship-launched cruise missile
• Iskander – Mach 7 ground-launched ballistic missile
• R-37M – Mach 6 air-to-air missile

Each of these weapons is fully operational, in full production, and has been used successfully during the Ukraine war. To date, these weapons have only been used with conventional explosives. But the first three can also be armed with nuclear warheads.

NATO air defenses have not found much if any, success against Russian hypersonics. And with new options such as the Oreshnik, which would likely target air defenses and ballistic missile sites, the balance in conventional weaponry in Ukraine has moved further in Russia’s favor.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is struggling to get our first hypersonic conventional missile, the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), in service. The U.S. has long worked on hypersonic missiles, but the engineering challenges are extreme. Traveling at speeds of Mach 5+ generates massive amounts of heat and friction.

America’s bloated defense sector has been unable to meet the requirements so far. Hopefully, Trump finds success in revitalizing our military-industrial complex. Otherwise, we will continue to fall behind.

As Biden goads Russia, he is implicitly relying on America’s nuclear weapons stockpile as a deterrent. At this point, we cannot match Russia when it comes to conventional missile technology.

So when Biden willingly crosses Russia’s red lines, he is counting on the threat of American nuclear weapons to prevent full-out war. He also appears to be attempting to sabotage President Trump’s promise to end the war in Ukraine.

This is incredibly reckless behavior. One major problem is that Russia has an even larger and more modern nuclear arsenal

If Moscow or a nuclear power plant is targeted by Ukraine using American missiles, there is a possibility that Russia retaliates with a nuclear strike. We are in essence calling their bluff. And they need to preserve their own defense deterrence posture, or they could look weak.

From there, things could get very ugly very quickly.

In a nuclear war, there are no winners. Biden and his handlers are playing a dangerous game. They are gambling with hundreds of millions of lives.

All of this is simply to drag out another unwinnable conflict. Have we learned nothing from the War on Terror? America’s reign as a lone superpower is over. That’s a reality that needs to sink in so U.S. policy can adapt accordingly.

The sooner the Deep State realizes this, the better off we’ll all be.

The lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis were clear. Lesson One is to avoid escalation. Lesson Two is that if escalation begins, it’s crucial to de-escalate. Failure to abide by these lessons is a straight path to nuclear war.

Russia has signaled that it is ready to begin immediate negotiations with the Trump administration. Trump’s upcoming presidency may be the only thing preventing WW3.

Inauguration Day can’t come fast enough.

Gates Foundation Funds International Pathogen Surveillance Network

International Pathogen Surveillance Network announces first recipients of grants to better understand disease threats

News release

Geneva

The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners announced 10 projects that will receive almost US$ 2 million in grants to improve capacities in pathogen genomic surveillance. 

The catalytic grant fund was established by the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) to support partners from low- and middle-income countries to build their capacities in pathogen genomic analysis. This technology analyses the genetic code of viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms to understand, in conjunction with other data, how easily they spread, and how sick they can make people. 

This data allows scientists and public health teams to track and respond to infectious disease threats, supports the development of vaccines and treatments and empowers countries to take faster decisions. 

The fund is hosted by the United Nations Foundation and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and Wellcome. 

“The IPSN catalytic grant fund has incredible potential to expand pathogen genomic surveillance for all, which we are already seeing through the first round of grantmaking,” said Sara Hersey, Director of Collaborative Intelligence at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. “We are eager to support this work, which plays a key role in pandemic and epidemic prevention worldwide.” 

“The IPSN catalytic grant fund recipients will accelerate the benefits of pathogen genomic surveillance in low- and middle-income settings, as well as explore new applications for genomic surveillance, such as wastewater surveillance,” said Manisha Bhinge, Vice President of the Health Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. “Pandemics and epidemics continue to be a global threat, further amplified by climate change. There is urgent need for equitable access to these tools and capabilities to protect lives in vulnerable communities.” 

One of the recipients, the American University of Beirut, will use wastewater surveillance to study how diseases spread in refugee populations, helping to ensure that people can quickly receive the care and support they need in migration settings. Another grantee, the Pasteur Institute of Laos, will use the funding to develop new methods to track avian flu in live-bird markets, a setting that is often overlooked but vital to millions of people worldwide. 

“If we are to protect vulnerable populations from the devastating impacts of disease, we first need to better understand how these pathogens spread, evolve and cause illness. These projects, developed in-country and tailored to local priorities, will generate new insights, knowledge and evidence that will help track global pathogen trends and inform evidence-based decisions to implement effective interventions” said Titus Divala, Interim Head of Epidemics and Epidemiology at Wellcome. 

"SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent regional disease outbreaks have underscored the importance of access to genomic surveillance tools in all countries. The IPSN's catalytic investments will generate data and innovative methods to support the much-needed scale-up in LMICs," said Simon Harris of the Gates Foundation.    

The grantees were announced at the IPSN Global Partners Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21–22 November. The event was co-hosted by the WHO Regional Offices for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific and the Centre for Pathogen Genomics at the Doherty Institute in Australia.  

UNESCO study reveals misinformation crisis among social media influencers

UNESCO study reveals misinformation crisis among social media influencers

By Cameron French

In a world where social media influencers hold significant sway over public opinion, a recent study by UNESCO has raised alarming concerns about the prevalence of misinformation among these digital creators. The report highlights that a staggering 62 percent of influencers do not fact-check the content they share, which poses a serious threat to public trust and discourse.

Understanding the study

Conducted in August and September 2024, the UNESCO study surveyed 500 influencers from 45 countries, all with a minimum of 1,000 followers. The findings reveal a troubling trend: while 37 percent of influencers occasionally consult fact-checking websites, many rely on subjective measures such as a source’s popularity or recommendations from friends. This lack of rigorous verification can lead to the spread of false information, which can have far-reaching consequences.

Influencers’ role in shaping public perception

The implications of this study are particularly concerning given that nearly 40 percent of young Americans aged 18 to 29 regularly receive their news from influencers, according to a Pew Research Center study. Unlike trained journalists, many influencers depend on personal experiences or trending topics as their primary sources of information. Notably, 42 percent of surveyed influencers assess a source’s credibility based on the number of likes or views it receives, while only 17 percent prioritize documented evidence. Despite this, 69 percent believe they are promoting critical thinking and digital literacy among their audiences.

Misinformation’s real-world impact

The timing of this report is crucial, coinciding with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where influencers played a pivotal role in disseminating information. High-profile figures like President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris utilized influencers and podcasters with large followings to connect directly with voters. However, the lack of fact-checking has real-world implications. Earlier this year, false claims about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, stealing pets went viral, leading to bomb threats and school closures, despite local officials’ efforts to debunk the rumors.

Challenges in combating misinformation

Efforts to combat misinformation have proven challenging for both governments and social media platforms. For instance, platforms like X have implemented “Community Notes” features for fact-checking but often struggle to remove false content effectively. YouTube has also banned the monetization of election-related misinformation, yet continues to profit from such videos.

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The West's Next Anti-Russian Provocation Might Be To Destabilize & Invade Belarus

The West's Next Anti-Russian Provocation Might Be To Destabilize & Invade Belarus

Andrew Korybko via substack,

Belarusian media reported last week about the West’s alleged plot to destabilize and then invade their country. Existing information warfare campaigns are meant to facilitate the recruitment of more sleeper cell agents, who’ll later stage a terrorist insurgency using Ukrainian-procured arms. Mercenaries will then invade from the south, carry out drone strikes against strategic targets, and attempt to seize the capital. If they succeed, then the coup authorities will request a conventional NATO military intervention.

Here are over a dozen background briefings about this scenario over the past year and a half:

* 25 May 2023: “NATO Might Consider Belarus To Be ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’ During Kiev’s Upcoming Counteroffensive”

* 1 June 2023: “The Union State Expects That The NATO-Russian Proxy War Will Expand”

* 14 June 2023: “Lukashenko Strongly Hinted That He Expects Belgorod-Like Proxy Incursions Against Belarus”

* 14 December 2023: “Belarus Is Bracing For Belgorod-Like Terrorist Incursions From Poland”

* 19 February 2024: “The Western-Backed Foreign-Based Belarusian Opposition Is Plotting Territorial Revisions”

* 21 February 2024: “Is The West Plotting A False Flag Provocation In Poland To Blame On Russia & Belarus?”

* 26 April 2024: “Analyzing Belarus’ Claim Of Recently Thwarting Drone Attacks From Lithuania”

* 30 June 2024: “Keep An Eye On Ukraine’s Military Buildup Along The Belarusian Border”

* 12 August 2024: “What’s Behind Belarus’ Military Buildup Along The Ukrainian Border?”

* 13 August 2024: “Security Threats To Belarus”

* 19 August 2024: “Ukraine Reportedly Has A Whopping 120,000 Troops Deployed Along Its Border With Belarus”

* 26 August 2024: “Ukraine Might Be Gearing Up To Attack Or Cut Off Belarus’ Southeastern City Of Gomel”

* 28 September 2024: “Belarus’ Warning About Using Nukes Probably Isn’t A Bluff (But There Might Be A Catch)”

This summer’s Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s Kursk Region might also have emboldened the plotters.

No nuclear retaliation from Russia followed despite the threat that this NATO-backed attack posed to its territorial integrity. Likewise, they might calculate that neither Russia nor Belarus (which hosts the former’s tactical nukes) would resort to these means if they replicated that scenario in the latter, especially if the invasion also came from Ukraine instead of NATO countries like Poland. This could give the West more leverage in upcoming peace talks with Russia if it succeeds.

That might sound reasonable on paper, but in practice, it ignores the fact that Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine just entered into force and that Putin responded to Ukraine’s use of Western long-range missiles by employing the state-of-the-art hypersonic medium-range Oreshnik missile in combat. The first allows the use of nuclear weapons in response to the sort of threats that this scenario poses while the second was meant as a signal to the West that Putin is finally climbing the escalation ladder.

Taken together, the latest developments indicate that Russia’s response to an unconventional mercenary invasion of Belarus and/or a conventional Ukrainian one might be different than its response to Kursk, and this could serve as the tripwire for the Cuban-like brinksmanship crisis that’s been brewing. 

Russia cannot afford to have its adversaries capture and hold Belarusian territory because of the national security threat that this presents and also because it would greatly undermine its negotiating position.

It might very well be that the West is aware of this and thus hopes to provoke precisely such a response from Russia with the expectation that “escalating to de-escalate” can end the conflict on better terms for their side. That would be a huge gamble since the stakes are much higher for Russia than for the West, thus reducing the chances that the former would agree to the concessions that the latter might demand, such as freezing the conflict along the existing Line of Contact without anything else in exchange.

There’s also the possibility that the West’s attempt to destabilize and invade Belarus, whether through mercenaries and/or conventional Ukrainian troops (a conventional NATO military intervention isn’t likely at this stage), is thwarted and nothing else comes of this plot. Much less likely but still impossible to rule out is that Russia asks Belarus to let one of the aforementioned invasions make enough progress to justify using tactical nukes against Ukraine to “escalate to de-escalate” on better terms

That would also be a huge gamble though since crossing the nuclear threshold might tremendously raise the stakes for the West as its leaders sincerely see it even if the primary intent is only to punish Ukraine. Nevertheless, seeing as how Putin is now finally climbing the escalation ladder and throwing some of his previous caution to the wind after feeling like his prior patience was mistaken by the West as weakness, he might be influenced by hawkish advisors into seeing that as an opportunity to flex Russia’s muscles.

In any case, regardless of whatever might happen, the fact is that it’s the West’s prerogative whether or not Belarus is destabilized and possibly also invaded. Ukraine could also “go rogue” out of desperation if it feels that the West might “sell it out” under Trump and thus wants to make a last-ditch attempt to improve its negotiating position or “escalate to de-escalate” on better terms for itself, but this could greatly backfire if it fails. They both therefore bear full responsibility for what could follow.