Posted by: Frank G ||
12/25/2025 14:00 ||
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[1807 views]
Top|| File under: Nut Jobs
#1
One thing he won’t do is talk.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
12/25/2025 14:24 Comments ||
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#2
I think the States have different laws on whether judges can take into consideration evidence presented in cases that did not result in a guilty verdict. Probably their are also conditions that apply as well in States that allow this.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
12/25/2025 17:39 Comments ||
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Sun is at the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, which is accompanied by strong magnetic storms, but these processes will begin to subside in two years. This was reported by Valery Petrov, PhD in Physics and Mathematics and head of the Earth's Variable Magnetic Field Department at IZMIRAN, in an interview with Regnum News Agency on Wednesday, December 24.
The Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute and the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) announced on Wednesday that 2025 set a 10-year record for the number of days with magnetic storms—69 such days. The scientist warned that the cycle is not yet complete.
"The Sun has an 11-year activity cycle. We are currently at the peak of the next cycle, when the greatest number of solar events occur. The previous peak was 11 years ago. Accordingly, the number of solar activity manifestations, such as magnetic storms, also follows a cyclical pattern. Moreover, the peak of storm activity occurs slightly after the solar maximum. Therefore, storms will be more frequent in the coming year and the following year. A decline will begin in about two years, with the minimum of magnetic storms expected in five to six years. Then, an increase will occur, and another peak will occur in 11 years," Petrov explained.
The expert noted that solar activity cycles vary in intensity. This and the previous cycles were marked by a high frequency of storms and other phenomena. However, the scientist believes the impact of magnetic storms on humans is exaggerated.
"Most people don't notice the effects of solar activity even at its peak. For those who do react, doctors are currently debating which is more influential—the magnetic storm or the noise surrounding it. People are told in the media that they'll feel ill, and they do. Storm-related processes occur primarily at high latitudes (near the poles), in the ionosphere, and in space. Mobile communications aren't particularly affected, but GPS positioning errors may increase. Satellite failures increase, and their service life is shortened. Spacewalks are not recommended during a severe storm," Petrov explained.
These days, experts are reporting coronal holes and solar flare activity. So far, they haven't had a significant impact on processes on Earth. In early December, astronomers also recorded a rare "black" flare.
In a conversation with Regnum News Agency, cardiologist Andrei Kondrakhin named the categories of people who may experience discomfort during magnetic storms.
[Semafor] US murders are on track to fall at a historic rate in 2025, according to an analysis of preliminary data.
The Real-Time Crime Index tracks 570 law enforcement agencies and is typically in line with official rates.
The projected 20% drop in murders from 2024 to 2025, which would be the largest decline ever recorded, furthers a trend that began in 2023; at least 10 cities are set to record the fewest murders since 1970, crime analyst Jeff Asher wrote on his Substack.
Polls indicate more Americans also feel safer, though partisanship often plays a role in that assessment.
That’s especially true this year, as President Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard to several cities with the intention of fighting crime.
#6
It is a large drop. DC was not the only city cooking their numbers. Stabbers are still being repeatedly released. Sanctopolicies are still in place in our largest cities. Fed judges are still conducting an insurrection. Once this all shakes out, the true drop will be outstanding.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
12/25/2025 14:51 Comments ||
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[IsraelTimes] Nasry Asfura, the conservative National Party candidate backed by US President Donald Trump, has won Honduras’ presidential election, the electoral body says as it finally declared a victor of the November 30 presidential election after weeks of delays, technical problems, and allegations of fraud.
The electoral authority, known as the CNE, says Asfura had won 40.3% of the vote, edging out center-right Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla who garnered 39.5%. Results were so tight and the ballot processing system so chaotic that around 15% of the tally sheets comprising hundreds of thousands of ballots had to be counted by hand to determine the winner.
[BBC] A top Amazon executive has said the US technology giant has blocked more than 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents.
North Koreans tried to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identities, Amazon's chief security officer Stephen Schmidt said in a LinkedIn post.
"Their objective is typically straightforward: get hired, get paid, and funnel wages back to fund the regime's weapons programs," he said, adding that this trend is likely to be happening at scale across the industry, especially in the US.
Authorities in the US and South Korea have warned about Pyongyang's operatives carrying out online scams.
Amazon has seen a nearly one-third increase in job applications from North Koreans in the past year, said Mr Schmidt in his post.
He said the operatives typically work with people managing "laptop farms" - referring to computers based in the US that are run remotely from outside of the country.
The firm used a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and verification by its staff to screen job applications, he said.
The strategies used by such fraudsters have become more sophisticated, Mr Schmidt said.
Bad actors are hijacking dormant LinkedIn accounts using leaked credentials to gain verification. They target genuine software engineers to appear credible, he said, urging firms to report suspicious job applications to the authorities.
Mr Schmidt warned employers to look out for indicators of fraudulent North Korean job applications, including incorrectly formatted phone numbers and mismatched education histories.
In June, the US government said it had uncovered 29 "laptop farms" that were being operated illegally across the country by North Korean IT workers.
They used stolen or forged identities of Americans to help North Korean nationals get jobs in the US, said the Department of Justice (DOJ).
It also indicted US brokers who had helped secure jobs for the North Korean operatives.
In July, a woman from Arizona was sentenced to more than eight years in jail for running a laptop farm to help North Korean IT workers secure remote jobs at more than 300 US companies.
The DOJ said the scheme generated more than $17m (£12.6m) in illicit gains for her and Pyongyang.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
Video has English subtitles
[YouTube] The Chinese are making their own Call of Duty game set in China during World War II. It's called Fourteen Years of Flames.
It looks pretty decent, although the animations leave a lot to be desired.
The game will offer 16 missions set in Chinese history from 1931 to 1945.
As you might guess, the game will feature the massacre of the Japanese. The atrocities of the Japanese occupiers will also be depicted.
This topic is currently relevant for China, given the remilitarization of Japan. Borya means the militarization of China...
I hope there aren’t security issues like TikTok had.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Due to low approval ratings for his policies, French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to suppress critics through censorship and turn the entire European Union (EU) into a digital gulag. This was stated by Pavel Durov, entrepreneur and co-founder of the messaging app Telegram, on December 24.
"The architect of the EU censorship law, which is being sanctioned, is a close ally and appointee of Macron. Faced with extremely low approval ratings, Macron is attempting to silence online critics by turning the entire EU into a digital gulag—through censorship (DSA) and mass surveillance (Chat Control)," Durov explained on social media.
This is how the Telegram co-founder commented on US Deputy Secretary of State Sarah Rogers' publication about the sanctions imposed by Washington against former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other European activists as part of the fight against the EU's attempts to censor American social media platforms.
Macron previously stated that France was dissatisfied with the US decision to impose a travel ban on Thierry Breton and four other European officials. Macron stated that the EU's digital rules were adopted by the European Parliament and the Council through a democratic and sovereign process and are not directed against third countries. He added that France will continue to defend the EU's regulatory autonomy and protect European digital sovereignty.
On December 23, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a travel ban on several "leading figures in the global censorship-industrial complex" as part of a crackdown on restrictions on American platforms. This measure targeted Breton, as well as several figures from the UK, Germany, and France.
#1
Not to mention attempting to silence political opponents as well through lawfare. Just ask Marie Le Pen. What she did was shady, but apparently she did what other French politicians have done.
#2
The fundamental conflict between Brussels and Moscow isn't whether Europe should be transformed into a totalitarian slave empire but who gets to rule.
Should it be the Moscovite Neo-Soviet nomenclatura or the Brusselite China inspired clique?
[FOX] Justice Samuel Alito criticized the Supreme Court’s majority in a sharp dissent Tuesday after the high court decided 6—3 to temporarily block President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard in Chicago.
Alito said the high court’s majority made "unwise" and "imprudent" determinations to reach its decision. The majority also did not give enough deference to Trump after the president found that agitators were hindering immigration officers and other federal personnel from doing their jobs in Chicago and that the National Guard needed to step in to help.
"Whatever one may think about the current administration’s enforcement of the immigration laws or the way ICE has conducted its operations, the protection of federal officers from potentially lethal attacks should not be thwarted," Alito wrote.
#1
We have a mayor threatening ICE with violence like he’s doing a mob shakedown.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
12/25/2025 14:28 Comments ||
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#2
Not to disagree with Justice Alito, but I think the decision to keep the Guard out of Chicago for a while will let the politicians, 'stew in their own juices'. How long can they sell, 'crime is down'?
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/25/2025 15:20 Comments ||
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[WAVE News] President Trump's endorsement of Mike Lindell for the Minnesota gubernatorial race in 2026 has raised concerns among Republican strategists about its potential negative impact on the party's chances. Trump has criticized incumbent Democratic Governor Tim Walz, labeling him as incompetent and linking issues like fraud investigations to Somali immigrants. Critics within the GOP argue that Trump's confrontational rhetoric could overshadow Lindell's campaign, with some strategists fearing a significant loss if Lindell secures the nomination. As the race unfolds, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party emphasizes its focus on working-class issues, contrasting with the perceived chaos within the GOP primary. The political landscape in Minnesota remains challenging for Republicans, given recent voting trends favoring Democrats.
DIVE DEEPER:
Trump's support for Lindell comes as part of a broader effort to unseat Governor Tim Walz, who has been criticized by Trump for various issues, including immigration and alleged incompetence.
Michael Brodkorb, a former Minnesota GOP deputy chair, expressed concerns that Trump's aggressive rhetoric could hinder Lindell's ability to present thoughtful policy alternatives.
Dustin Grage, a Minnesota Republican strategist, indicated that a Lindell nomination could lead to significant losses for the GOP, suggesting he would consider relocating if that occurred.
In the 2020 elections, Minnesota leaned Democratic, with Trump failing to secure the state, although he improved his performance compared to previous elections.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Richard Carlbom highlighted the contrast between Governor Walz's focus on working-class issues and the Republican party's internal conflicts, framing the election as a choice between effective governance and loyalty to Trump.
The gubernatorial race features about a dozen candidates, including notable figures like Lisa Demuth and Kendall Qualls, indicating a competitive primary process for the GOP.
Minnesota families are reportedly facing rising costs, which Carlbom claims the Democratic administration is actively addressing, while Republicans are portrayed as prioritizing loyalty to Trump over constituent needs.
#2
I’m pretty sure that Lindell can reduce some of the corruption in Minnesota. Alternatively, they can elect another politician.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
12/25/2025 14:37 Comments ||
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#3
Demuth is the speaker of the MN House of Representatives.
She will have good name recognition and can claim strong command of Statewide issues. Not many accomplishments stopping Walz yet but that's because the Dems have been in control until recently.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
12/25/2025 21:38 Comments ||
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[BBC] The killing of a Hindu man during recent violent protests in Bangladesh has pushed already strained ties between Dhaka and Delhi into a deeper crisis.
As the two neighbours accuse each other of destabilising relations, questions are growing over whether their once close, time-tested relationship is fraying beyond repair.
In India, the episode has sparked protests by Hindu nationalist groups. The man who was killed - Dipu Chandra Das, 27 - a member of Bangladesh's Hindu minority, was accused of blasphemy and beaten to death by a mob last week in Mymensingh, in northern Bangladesh.
The incident happened hours before violent protests broke out over the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader, in the capital, Dhaka.
Hadi's supporters alleged that the main suspect, who they say is linked to the Awami League - the party of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina - had fled to India, further fuelling anti-India sentiment in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Bangladeshi police, however, said there was no confirmation that the suspect had left the country.
HASINA'S CONVICTION IS TESTING INDIA-BANGLADESH TIES
In recent days, the South Asian neighbours have suspended visa services in several cities, including Delhi, and accused each other of failing to ensure adequate security for their diplomatic missions.
The two countries have also summoned each other's high commissioners to raise their security concerns.
Anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh is not new.
A section of Bangladeshis has always resented what they see as India's overbearing influence on their country, especially during Hasina's 15-year rule before she was deposed in an uprising last year.
The anger has grown since Hasina took refuge in India and Delhi, so far, hasn't agreed to send her back despite several requests from Dhaka.
In the aftermath of Hadi's killing, some young leaders are reported to have made provocative anti-India statements.
In recent weeks, Bangladeshi security forces had to stop protesters from marching toward the Indian high commission in Dhaka.
Last week, a mob pelted the Indian assistant high commission building in Chittagong with stones, prompting outrage from Delhi. Police later detained 12 people in connection with the incident, but they were released later without any charge.
There were counter rallies in India. Bangladesh strongly objected to a protest by a Hindu group outside its diplomatic premises in Delhi, calling it "unjustifiable".
The brutal lynching of Das, a garment factory worker, has only added to the anger on the Indian side.
He was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad and was lynched by a mob, who then tied his body to a tree and set it on fire.
Videos of the killing were widely shared on social media, triggering outrage on both sides of the border.
Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, said there was "no place for such violence in the new Bangladesh", promising that no one involved in the killing would be spared.
Bangladeshi police say they have arrested 12 people in connection with the killing of Das.
Analysts say his killing has once again raised questions over the safety of minorities and civil society activists in Bangladesh, with religious fundamentalists becoming more assertive and intolerant after Hasina's exit.
Radical Islamists have desecrated hundreds of Sufi shrines, attacked Hindus, prevented women from playing football in some areas and have also curtailed music and cultural shows.
Human rights groups have also expressed increasing concerns over rising mob violence in Bangladesh in the past year.
"Hardline elements of society now see themselves as the mainstream, and they don't want to see pluralism or diversity of thought in the country," Asif Bin Ali, a Bangladeshi political analyst, said.
"These radical elements are dehumanising people and institutions by setting a narrative that they are pro-India. That gives a green light to others on the ground to attack them."
Many in Bangladesh suspect Islamist radicals to be part of the mob that vandalised and set fire to the buildings of two Bangladesh dailies - The Daily Star and Prothom Alo - and a cultural institution last week, accusing them of being pro-India.
Civil society activists in Bangladesh have criticised the interim administration for failing to stop the recent violence. Even before the protests, the interim government was under scrutiny as it struggled to maintain law and order and deliver results amid the political turmoil.
Experts like Ashok Swain argue that right-wing leaders on both sides are making provocative statements for their own benefit, inflaming tension and public anger.
"A large section of the Indian media is also playing up events in Bangladesh and portraying that the country is descending into communal chaos," says Mr Swain, a professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University in Sweden.
"People should realise that stability in Bangladesh is key to India's security, particularly in the north-east," he says.
With the interim administration in Dhaka facing criticism over its lack of control and legitimacy, there is broad consensus that an elected government would be better positioned to address Bangladesh's domestic and foreign challenges.
The country is scheduled to hold elections on 12 February but until then, Yunus has the difficult task of avoiding further violence.
With Ms Hasina's Awami League banned from taking part in the polls, it's widely expected that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will emerge as the winner.
But Islamist political parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami can pose a challenge to the BNP.
There are worries that there could be more violence in the coming days as hardline religious parties exploit anti-India sentiments.
"The biggest victim of this anti-India politics is not India, it's Bangladeshi citizens themselves – like secular minded individuals, centrists and minorities," warns Asif Bin Ali.
He says the current narrative shows that anyone or any institution who criticises fundamentalists can be "dehumanised by labelling them pro-India, and attacks on them can be justified".
Policy makers in India are aware of the changing dynamics in Bangladesh.
An Indian parliamentary panel said developments in Bangladesh pose "the greatest strategic challenge" to Delhi since the country's independence war in 1971.
Former Bangladeshi diplomats like Humayun Kabir feel that India should accept the ground reality and reach out to Bangladesh to rebuild trust.
"We are neighbours and inter-dependent," Mr Kabir says.
Delhi has already indicated that it will engage with an elected government in Bangladesh and that could pave the way for a diplomatic reboot.
Until then, experts on both sides caution that anger on the street must not be allowed to further strain bilateral ties.
[NYP] Pope Leo XIV made an appeal for "one full day of peace throughout the world" in a Christmas address outside Castel Gandolfo in Rome — and criticized Russia for refusing a holiday cease-fire.
"I once again make this appeal to all people of good will: that, at least on the feast of the birth of the Savior, one day of peace may be respected," the first American pontiff said Tuesday.
The pope then took questions from reporters, many of which centered around ongoing global conflicts including the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
[Breitbart] A Hungarian technology firm is making what its chairman called a “giant leap” for bilateral cooperation after committing $100 million to a leading U.S. commercial space company, marking the first time a Hungarian enterprise has taken an ownership stake in a major American space player.
Budapest-based 4iG announced Friday that its space and defense subsidiary had signed a definitive agreement to become an anchor investor in Houston-based Axiom Space, committing $30 million by the end of 2025 and an additional $70 million by March 31, 2026.
The two-step investment, disclosed in a capital-market filing, represents a historic milestone in U.S.–Hungarian space cooperation and positions Hungary inside the rapidly expanding commercial space ecosystem, including low Earth orbit infrastructure, microgravity research, and space-based data services.
“This collaboration is of historic significance for the Hungarian space industry, as it marks the first time a Hungarian company participates as an owner of a U.S. space player,” said Gellért Jászai, chairman of 4iG, adding that Axiom is developing “revolutionary technological solutions that are fundamentally transforming the commercial space sector and setting the direction for developments in the coming decades.”
Jászai said the investment reflects Hungary’s growing role in the global space economy and underscores the strengthening ties between Budapest and Washington.
Under the agreement, 4iG Space and Defence Technologies will gain long-term access to space-based data processing, orbital communications, and industrial research programs conducted in microgravity environments — a core pillar of the company’s strategy to become a leading international player in space and defense technologies.
In a separate statement posted on social media, Jászai described the deal as the culmination of a deliberate push to deepen U.S. ties over the past year, calling the Axiom investment “a new chapter” for Hungarian-American cooperation and “a giant leap for 4iG.”
For Axiom Space, the investment brings in a European industrial partner as the company accelerates development of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station designed to eventually succeed the International Space Station.
“We’re excited to welcome 4iG Space and Defence as an investor in Axiom Space at such a pivotal moment for commercial space,” said Kam Ghaffarian, executive chairman of Axiom Space. He said the partnership aligns with Axiom’s vision for global space infrastructure and will strengthen innovation in microgravity research, data processing, and space commercialization.
Axiom Space already plays a central role in Hungary’s space ambitions. The company is responsible for flying Hungary’s second astronaut, Tibor Kapu, as part of the HUNOR — Hungarian to Orbit — program, marking a milestone in the country’s human spaceflight history.
The agreement also builds on earlier cooperation between the two firms, including joint work on orbital data center technologies and low Earth orbit services — areas increasingly viewed as critical to the next phase of the commercial space economy.
The investment follows renewed optimism in Budapest about the trajectory of U.S.–Hungarian relations under President Donald Trump. In a December 2024 exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar said Hungary expected a “new era” of economic and strategic cooperation with Washington after years of strained ties under the Biden administration.
Magyar underscored Hungary’s reliance on trade, openness to investment, and ambition to serve as a bridge between East and West — themes now reflected in 4iG’s expansion into the U.S. space sector.
With the first tranche set to close by the end of 2025, both companies have framed the deal as a long-term strategic alignment rather than a one-off financial transaction — signaling Hungary’s arrival as a serious player in the commercial space race and sharpening the technological partnership between Budapest and Washington.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[NY Post] 
