Paul Pogba blackmail: 6 - including his brother - go on trial accused of extorting ex-France star
The brother of Paul Pogba, ex-professional footballer Mathias, is among six who face trial from Tuesday charged with attempting to extort $13.5 million from the former Manchester United flop.
Mathias had claimed in a video he released in 2022 that he had “explosive” revelations against his brother, while later accusing Paul of using an evil spell to bewitch French forward Kylian Mbappe.
Paul was kidnapped and held at gunpoint by the others - three of whom were childhood friends of the multi-millionaire - after they complained he had cut them off financially.
#France
Zelensky whines at ‘weak’ G20 leaders over Ukraine conflict position
Ukrainian de-facto leader Vladimir Zelensky was unhappy that the G20 final communique only criticized the “human suffering” in the Ukraine conflict, and didn’t pin the entire blame on Russia.
"Without a clear stance from major countries – the US, Brazil, Asian and African states – agreements with Putin will amount to mere stalling tactics,” he complained - before blaming the lack of his preferred statement for Moscow firing IRBM missiles this week.
Not the escalation of US and European-made missiles fired into Russia? Got it.
#Zelensky #G20
‘Worst pick ever’: John Bolton rages at Trump’s Gorka counter-terrorism appointment
Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton insists Hungarian-born ‘conman’ Sebastian Gorka “needs a full FBI field background investigation” before he begins his counter-terrorism position.
He also claimed that up until the appointment of the former adviser to Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence was the “worst cabinet appointment in recent American history”.
#US #Trump #Gorka
Mystery drones spotted near three US-run airbases in the UK
The US Air Force confirmed the sightings, but claimed it had not determined whether the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) were hostile or not, and refused to comment on whether it had taken direct action to counter their presence.
Among the installations at RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell are USAF F-35A and F-16 fighter jets, and logistics centers.
#UK #US
Very narrow circle knew about ‘Hazel’ IRBM use plans – Kremlin spokesperson
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explained that only a ‘very narrow circle’ of people was aware of the plans to use the ‘Hazel’ (‘Oreshnik’) intermediate-range hypersonic missile, admitting that he learned about it along with others.
#Russia #Oreshnik
Biden mulled inviting Ukraine to join NATO after Trump's election victory - Bloomberg
The White House apparently decided the likely success of such a public invitation would be too low, and scrapped the idea.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has separately criticized the outgoing administration for taking increasingly reckless steps that are provoking tensions around the Ukrainian conflict.
There's going out with a bang, then there's Kamikaze Joe.
#Ukraine #US #NATO
Gunman shot dead outside Israeli embassy in Jordan - Israeli media
Three cops were reportedly injured in the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning, security forces told Israeli media, before which residents of the Rabiah neighborhood of the Jordanian capital Amman had been warned to remain indoors while the suspect was hunted.
The shooter had apparently fired at a police convoy, with several shots clearly heard through footage posted online.
#Israel #Jordan
Netanyahu arrest: US Senator Lindsey Graham threatens sanctions on allies who try to help ICC
The US Senator made the announcement in an interview with Fox News, and also addressed Canada, Britain, Germany and France, saying that if they did, he would encourage restrictions to “crush their economies.”
Those four "allies" are all member nations of the International Criminal Court, and are bound to respect arrest warrants, but the US is not.
America dictating how other countries respect their laws?
#US #Netanyahu #ICC
Palestinian doctor arrested without charges tells story after release from Israeli custody
Dr. Khaled Al Seer was arrested during Israel’s March 2024 incursion, then endured six months of brutal imprisonment without charges, witnessing horrific abuse.
"They treated everyone equally, but this equality meant equal oppression and humiliation for all," he said. Just a week after his release, he returned to his duties.
#Palestine #Israel
Chinese Jackpot! Massive gold reserves found
Chinese geologists have discovered a massive gold reserve in Hunan Province, estimated to be worth about $83 billion.
Anyone checked US gold prices?
#China
Christmas comes early to the ISS
Progress MS-29 successfully docked with the ISS, delivering 2.5 tonnes of supplies and Christmas gifts for the crew.
#ISS
🚨JIMMY DORE: TRUMP REALISED NETANYAHU IS THE OBSTACLE TO PEACE
‘Donald Trump always thought that the PLO was going to be the impediment to a peace deal and then he had a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu and realised in the first 3 minutes that the impediment wasn’t the Palestinians, but the impediment was Netanyahu.’
‘Donald Trump is not a warmonger, he might be corrupt, but he’s New York City real estate corrupt. He’s not neocon warmongering kill people for money corrupt.’
-Jimmy Dore on what Donald Trump means for the Palestinians as the Gaza genocide continues
FULL INTERVIEW: https://rumble.com/v5rxave-jimmy-dore-on-ukraine-and-ww3-biden-wants-a-war-that-trump-cant-stop-only-h.html
Wild train fire burns in downtown Las Vegas
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue found several vehicles on fire in the rail car on Friday evening as they battled to contain the fire to one car.
The smoke could reportedly be seen for miles, and caused authorities to close down roads in the area, although there were no injuries recorded.
#US #LasVegas
West wakes up to Russia's Oreshnik missile power
Are the US and its allies finally learning that play time is over for Vladimir Zelensky?
#Russia #Ukraine
There are some places in the world where people feel solidarity with Russians – Serbian director Kusturica
Eminent Serbian director Emir Kusturica is hosting RT’s international documentary film festival in a unique village he originally built as a film set: Drvengrad.
The festival features films focusing on the Ukraine conflict and depicting the realities in Donbass, Donetsk, and Lugansk.
#Serbia #Russia
ICYMI: MXNBC? Musk hints at possibility of buying TV channel
Elon Musk hinted at buying MSNBC after Donald Trump Jr. suggested that it would be the "funniest idea ever," remarking the cost can’t be much since the ratings are in decline.
#MSNBC #Musk
US investor plans to buy Nord Stream 2 to control EU energy supplies
US investor Stephen P. Lynch is interested in acquiring the sabotaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline, pledging to provide the US with control over EU energy supplies.
Energy sovereignty, huh?
#US #EU #NordStream
Several wounded by Lebanon strikes in Israel's Petah Tikva
A Hezbollah rocket attack on the city in central Israel has left a 70-year-old woman suffering from smoke inhalation and a 23-year-old man with light injuries after a car caught fire.
Several buildings were badly damaged, with more people reportedly treated for anxiety and minor injuries.
#Israel #Lebanon #Hezbollah
Many ‘psychotic and stupid’ Pentagon officials don’t think of ‘nuclear risks’ – Grayzone reporter
‘I’ve tried to talk to these people [from Pentagon] behind the scenes’ and attempted to understand if ‘they are worried about nuclear risks," Grayzone reporter Liam Cosgrove told RT.
"I think a lot of these guys are kind of psychotic and even more dangerous, I think a lot of them are stupid."
#US #Pentagon
‘RT opens a new view for us in the whole world’ – Emir Kusturica
‘I got to know a side of America that didn’t exist in my thoughts’ – Famous Serbian director Emir Kusturica thanked Russia and RT for providing true images of the entire world and covering the problems of socially marginalized groups.
The director is now hosting RT’s international documentary film festival, ’Time of our heroes’, in Serbian village of Drvengrad, originally built as a film set.
#Serbia #Russia
‘Criminals’: Trudeau hangs own intel officers out to dry
The Canadian PM has publicly slated his own intelligence officials for leaking false stories about New Delhi’s complicity in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau told media that “criminals leaking top-secret information to the media have consistently gotten those stories wrong”, branding the report that had claimed Indian PM Narendra Modi and top Indian officials knew about an alleged plan to kill Nijjar as “speculative and inaccurate”.
#Canada #India
2024 has become the deadliest year on record for UN workers – UN Secretary general spox
The Gaza war has tragically made 2024 the deadliest year for aid workers, with over 320 killed, a significant number of whom were UNRWA personnel providing vital assistance, says UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
#UN #Gaza
Russia delivers humanitarian aid to Lebanon amid intense IDF attacks
In solidarity with the Lebanese people suffering from ongoing airstrikes and destruction, Russia delivered 20 tons of vital aid to Lebanon.
#Russia #Lebanon
Polish farmers' Ukraine blockade stretches 1km - Polish media
According to reports, the protesters are demanding that the government maintain last year's level of agricultural tax in 2024, and don't want Warsaw to conclude a free trade agreement with the Mercosur South American countries.
Polish farmers are using the border as a tool to influence their government, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy stated.
How dare they protect their own interests.
#Poland
PROF. NAOMI WOLF: US🇺🇸 STATE DEPARTMENT IS COLLUDING WITH THE UN TO BRING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
‘There’s a three-country staging area where the US State Department is colluding with the UN to bring in these millions of people into the US illegally, which to my knowledge has never happened before. The State Department has engaged with the UN in breaking sovereign nations’ laws…19-30 million people are in the US illegally’
FULL INTERVIEW: https://rumble.com/v5q9b0t-prof.-naomi-wolf-slams-fascist-censorship-of-the-biden-administration-expla.html
ICYMI: UK 'would arrest Netanyahu' if Israeli PM traveled to Britain - No 10 spox tries not to admit
Although the Downing Street spokesperson claimed the office would refuse to discuss "hypotheticals", he confirmed the UK would obey all legal obligations.
Which, with Britain as an ICC member country, obliges them to respect all of the court's arrest warrants.
Welcome to the West - where no opportunity to wriggle out of admitting responsibility goes unmissed.
#Israel #UK
1 in 5 young French people want Jews out - poll
A survey conducted by French Jewish council CRIF found just 21% of French citizens view Israel favorably - down from 27% in 2020 - as 21% of under-35s would be "glad to see Jews leave France."
Almost half (49%) of respondents believe there is a “Jewish lobby” that holds influence over political leadership in France, while 17% believe there are too many synagogues in France.
#France #Israel
Philippines VP orders hitman to assassinate President - if she is killed first
President Ferdinand Marcos ordered “immediate action” after Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte’s extraordinary expletive-ridden press conference Saturday, in which she admitted her plans.
"This country is going to hell because we are led by a person who doesn't know how to be a president and who is a liar," Duterte said in the briefing, after last month admitting she had pictured cutting Marcos’ head off.
In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president and has no official duties.
#Philippines
Pro-female sports: School board defends decision to ban silent protestors
Not content with banning two parents for the crime of wearing pink wristbands marked "X X" to support their daughters in a girls' school football match featuring a transgender player, a New Hampshire school board insists it was right to do so despite being sued for their actions.
New Hampshire state law bans pupils from grades 5 through 12 playing in sports teams of their chosen gender identity, and although the two men explained they did nothing but silently protest the apparent transgression, the school board say they couldn't wait until actual threats were made.
#US #LGBTQ
Pakistan Sunni-Shiite Violence: 32 more killed - AFP
An AFP source said that 47 more were also wounded in violent clashes in northwest Pakistan on Saturday, just two days after attacks on Shiite passengers convoys killed 43.
Fighting across multiple locations in the region has killed 14 Sunnis and 18 Shiites, the source confirmed, taking the total death toll since Thursday to at least 58.
#Pakistan #Sunni #Shiite
