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❗️Russia congratulates US President-elect Trump on taking office, Putin said, emphasizing that Russia is open for dialogue with the Trump administration on resolving the Ukraine conflict.

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Butcher of the State Department: Blinken’s key role in inflaming global hotspots

Under Blinken’s watch the US sparked the worst security crisis in Europe since WWII, and fueled the most severe fighting between Jews and Palestinians since Israel’s creation in 1948.

🔥Ukraine Conflict

🟠In late 2022, Antony Blinken rejected a peace proposal by Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, favoring sending advanced weapons to Kiev, NYT revealed Saturday.

🟠Blinken was a key architect of the Ukrainian conflict, which could have been averted if the Biden administration had not insisted on NATO membership for Ukraine.

🟠In late 2021, Blinken assured Ukraine’s FM of NATO’s “unwavering commitment,” escalating tensions as Kiev amassed troops near Donbass.

🟠President Putin revealed in mid-2023 that Moscow and Kiev were close to a peace deal before NATO’s intervention derailed it.

🔥Gaza Crisis

🟠In October 2023, following a Hamas incursion, Israel launched its deadliest attack on Gaza.

🟠Standing by Netanyahu, Blinken vowed: “We will always be there by your side.”

🟠From late 2023 to mid-2024, the US supplied Israel with 14,000+ MK-84 bombs, 6,500 500-pound bombs, and other munitions.

By late 2023, Israel had dropped over 70,000 tons of bombs on Gaza—more than the tonnage dropped on Dresden, Hamburg, and London in WWII.

🔥Other Hotspots

🟠North Korea: Dismantled Trump’s diplomacy and formed a tripartite security pact with South Korea and Japan in 2021.

🟠China: Blinken escalated tensions in the East and South China Seas, supported Taiwan, and negotiated the AUKUS pact.

🟠Middle East: Backed Israel in missile confrontations with Iran, launched a campaign against Yemen’s Houthis, and facilitated the toppling of Syria’s Assad in late 2024.

🟠Africa: Involved in conflicts from Ethiopia and Libya to Sudan and the Sahel.

🟠Regime Change: Supported covert US efforts in Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Serbia, and Georgia.

Blinken’s legacy includes active support for the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, NATO’s 2011 assault on Libya, and the start of the war against Syria in 2011.

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President Joe Biden issued pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 events. In a significant use of his executive authority during his final hours in office, Biden sought to shield these individuals from potential “revenge” actions by the incoming Trump administration.

The move follows public warnings from Donald Trump, who has signaled intentions to target political opponents and those who challenged his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results or held him accountable for his role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

🤝THROWBACK: The last meeting of Trump and Putin

This photo was taken at the G20 Summit in Osaka in June 2019.

A new face-to-face meeting might take place very soon.

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russian LNG supplies to China surged to 8.3 million tons in 2024

The volume of Russian liquefied natural gas supplies to China in 2024 increased by 3.3% compared to 2023, according to China's Customs data.

🔹 Total volume reached 8.3 million tons, statistics show.

🔹 Imports in value decreased by 3.5%, to $4.99 billion. Russia is in third place among LNG suppliers to China.

🔹 Overall, Russia became China's top crude supplier in 2024, according to Chinese customs.

🔹 In the first 10 months of 2024, China imported 2.17 million b/d of Russian crude, up 2.2% year on year.

By 2030, total gas supplies from Russia to China, both pipeline and tanker-shipped, are projected to reach 85 billion cubic meters per year.

Сhina gets most of its Russian gas supplies via the Power of Siberia pipeline, set to reach its designed transportation capacity of 38 billion cubic meters in 2025.

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Shinzo Abe saved Trump: Memes about US president communing with spirit of murdered Japanese Prime Minister go viral again

The "theory" gained popularity after the failed assassination attempt on the then US presidential candidate: the spirit of Shinzo Abe purportedly told Trump to "move his head” – and so dodge the bullet.

Six months later netizens are posting memes of Trump "thanking" Abe for his advice that let him survive to be inaugurated.

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Scores of senior diplomats given marching orders as Trump purges Biden’s State Dept

A host of senior career diplomats are quitting the State Department as Donald Trump makes a clean break with the Joe Biden administration, The Washington Post reported.

The resignations, effective at noon on Monday, just before the inauguration, were on instructions from Trump’s aides, claimed unnamed US officials.

Trump has authorized over 20 “senior bureau officials” to take over vacated posts, with some of the newcomers having formerly serving in key roles during his first term, insiders added.

Among those departing are:

🔸 John Bass, the under secretary for management and acting undersecretary for political affairs,

🔸Geoff Pyatt, the assistant secretary for energy resources,

🔸Dan Kritenbrink, top diplomat for East Asia.

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📹Homeward bound: Gaza returns begin

Aerial drone footage shows displaced Palestinians returning to their homes in northern Gaza following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Footage from social media

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🇷🇺🪖More statements from the Russian MoD daily briefing on the special military operation's progress:    

▪️Ukraine lost up to 400 servicemen and a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, manufactured in the USA, in the Russian Zapad Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Russian air defence systems shot down a Hammer guided bomb, eight HIMARS missiles and 86 Ukrainian drones.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 545 troops in the Russian Tsentr Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 220 servicemen and four warehouses in the Russia's Battlegroup Yug area of responsibility.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 85 soldiers in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr and Sever.

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Zelensky regime perpetuates more atrocities: Ukrainian forces fire missile into school

The Ukrainian military unleashed a missile strike on a school in the village of Bekhtera, located in the Kherson region, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to 13 others, including three children.

The strike, carried out using HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, occurred in the morning while the children were on their way to school.

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❗️Russian troops liberated the settlement of Novoyegorovka in the Lugansk People's Republic and the settlement of Shevchenko in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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