💰 Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros is tied to at least 54 prominent media figures through cash provided to groups affiliated with them, including journalists from CNN, NBC, CBS, Bloomberg, NPR, and The Washington Post, a study conducted by MRC Business revealed.

💬 “His funding has helped him establish ties with some of the biggest name media personalities in the United States and abroad which help indoctrinate millions with his views on a day-to-day basis,” MCR Business analysts claim.

A previous study showed that George Soros siphoned at least $131 million between 2016 and 2020 to influence 253 media groups.

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Kiev Seeks to Ban Ukrainian Orthodox Church as Part of Religious Crackdown

The ban is to go into force if the Ukrainian authorities determine that the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is affiliated with Russia, stated a message posted on the website of the parliament, or Verkhovna Rada.

Russia's spiritual leader, Patriarch Kirill, condemned the direct persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the forcible seizures of churches in Ukraine, beatings inflicted on clergy and laity, threats to their lives, mass searches, and "counterintelligence measures" in diocesan administrations, churches, and monastic cloisters, as well as the initiation of criminal cases and calls for a complete ban on the activities of the UOC in the country.

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❗️️Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin has reaffirmed that a new aid delivery to Ukraine will include 90 infantry fighting vehicles and the upcoming delivery of Archer howitzers from Sweden, the dispatch of 19 howitzers from Denmark, the deployment of Stinger systems, helicopters, and other equipment from Latvia, and the transfer of 155 mm howitzers from Estonia.

At the same meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that allies need to rapidly increase the production of weapons and ammunition and replenish their stockpiles, which will be discussed at a meeting of defense ministers in February.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia regards the West’s decision to discuss the new supply of weapons to Kiev as a blatant provocation that will inevitably lead to more casualties and a dangerous escalation.

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Scottish Nationalists to Ask 7YO Children if They Are Transgender in School Survey

Children will be asked their gender identity, with the option of "male, female, non-binary, transgender or other" — and will be allowed to fill in the form without their parents seeing their answers.

Parents' group Us for Them Scotland also voiced concerns about the SNP's existing policy of "validating" children who question their biological sex without consulting their parents, saying there had been a "huge growth" in young people complaining of gender dysphoria.

💬 "It can look like it is being encouraged," said UFT Scotland organiser Jo Bisset. "The fact that schools transition children without their parents' knowledge is something our members find very disturbing."

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Some Weapons Sent to Kiev Could Take US ‘Nearly Half a Century’ to Replenish, Retired Officer Warns

The US and its allies have slashed military warehouses' stocks of advanced weapons systems, including hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, HIMARS rockets, and anti-air missiles, in the West's effort to prop up its client state in Kiev in the NATO proxy war against Russia. A retired US Army officer fears that the weapons deliveries undermine US national security.

Here's how

Yellen's Trip: US' Attempts to Squeeze Russia & China Out of Africa are Futile, Scholars Say

Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen embarked on an 11-day trip to Senegal, Zambia, and South Africa. The declared goal of Yellen's charm offensive is to offer new economic opportunities to African nations.

What other objectives is the treasury secretary pursuing in the world’s second-largest continent?

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❗️The US will soon designate the private military company Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization and impose sanctions on its network, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday.

Kirby said the US government will also impose additional sanctions next week against Wagner and its support network across multiple continents. The US government will work to identify, disrupt, expose and target firms that are assisting the Wagner Group, the White House official said.

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Biden's Messy Policies Dealt a Heavy Blow to Americans in Just Two Years, US Observers Say

"Biden's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion has turned our political system into a disaster," Lisa Haven, a libertarian commentator, radio host and alternative media news analyst, told Sputnik.

💬 "There is progress being made on nothing, only talking points, lies and misdirection. Our entire FAA initiated a complete ground stop. Our borders are a porous disaster. The floodgates of opioids have been wide open. The economy is failing, incomes are dropping, debt is rising... So, in short, Biden has dealt with nothing," Haven said.

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‼️ New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins is set to take over the top spot after Jacinda Ardern officially steps down next month

Hipkins was the sole nominee for the Labour leadership

💬 "Very recently, just less than a week ago, they had an effigy of Erdogan being hung in Stockholm. A month ago, they had projections, the PKK had projections projected onto the Turkish embassy, the Turkish embassy is, obviously Turkish sovereign territory in Sweden is protected by the Geneva Convention, which is should be a big no-no. And we're continuing to see this type of activity. Swedish government is saying, well, it's freedom of press," says Yusuf Erim, an editor-at-large at TRT World.

🎧 Listen to more of Yusuf Erim’s analysis in our podcast Fault Lines: Key US Ally Moves Away From the Dollar Amid Global Economic Chaos

Fearsome Fighting Machine or Dangerous Deathtrap: What is the Stryker AFV the US is Sending Kiev?

The US has pledged to send 90 Stryker armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine as part of a new $2.5 billion weapons package. What are the system's capabilities and problem areas, and how could they help or hinder Kiev in its war effort?

Find out here

Reporters Said to Be Fuming Over 'Evasive' Handling of Biden Classified Docs Row by WH Press Sec

“I just commented. I just commented... We're moving on…. I already answered your question,” Jean-Pierre told one of the indignant reporters as she redirected the questions to the Justice Department. “

When fresh classified documents were recovered at Biden’s home in Delaware, Jean-Pierre ​failed to notify the press corps, the media report added. The fact that Jean-Pierre has refused to allow officials from the Justice Department or White House Counsel’s office face a grilling before reporters has ostensibly left them railing against her.

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Biden on Tanks: Ukraine Will Get All Help It Needs

US President Joe Biden, when asked about deliberations among allies to send tanks to Ukraine, told reporters on Friday that Ukraine will get all the help it needs, according to the White House press pool.

"Ukraine is going to get all the help they need," Biden said, as quoted by the press pool.

Earlier in the day, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, following a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, emphasized the importance of the United States sending Ukraine modern US tanks and long-range missile systems in order to repel an expected Russian offensive in the coming weeks or months, which will be a critical moment in the conflict.

‼️US, British Snipers Sent to Potemkin Island Near Kherson - Source

Ukrainian servicemen have told Russian security forces that snipers from the United States and the United Kingdom have been sent to Potemkin Island (Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin) near Kherson to kill civilians in order to pass them off as victims of the Russian Armed Forces, a Russian law enforcement source told Sputnik.

"According to information received from sources in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an American-British group of mercenaries, mostly snipers, drove to Bolshoy Potemkin Island in the Kherson region in order to terrorize the Russian-speaking population. The victims of the mercenaries’ murders are supposed to be passed off as those killed by the Russian army," the source said.

Macron Unveils Massive Military Expansion Plan Amid Nationwide Strike Over Neoliberal Budget Cuts

Macron’s proposed new defense budget size for the 2024-2030 period, €413 billion, is 40% larger than the previous 2019-2025 period budget of €295 billion.

Macron’s announcement comes amid a new wave of mass demonstrations in France, where 1 million marched on strike on Friday against a proposed plan to increase the retirement age to 64.

According to French media, eight of the country’s largest unions took part in the strike, which included 40% of primary school teachers and one-third of high school teachers. Transportation networks also shut down as workers walked out on strike.

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On Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia

💬 "It's a milestone moment for the Russian arms industry to be able to sell such a big ticket item to NATO member. I think that was of great concern to the United States. They didn't want that setting a precedent where NATO members were buying big ticket Russian items. I think that it also showed the world that there are other alternatives, the US isn't the only show in town regarding weapons, so I think it was a bunch of concerns they had," says Yusuf Erim, an editor-at-large at TRT World.

🎧 Listen to more of Yusuf Erim’s analysis in our podcast Fault Lines: Key US Ally Moves Away From the Dollar Amid Global Economic Chaos

Who is Chris Hipkins, New Zealand's Next Prime Minister?

After Labor Party leader Jacinda Ardern announced she was resigning as head of New Zealand’s government earlier this week, only one candidate was nominated by Labor to replace her: Chris Hipkins, who holds several portfolios in Ardern’s government.

Labor leadership nominated Hipkins on Friday to replace Ardern once she steps down, although the party caucus still has to formally approve his nomination in a vote scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

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China Replacing Aging Fighter Jets With Advanced J-16s in All Five Theater Commands, Report Says

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has stepped up its efforts to replace aging fighter jets with top-of-the-line J-16 fighters, according to reports in Chinese media. The advanced aircraft has most recently been deployed in Tibet and Xinjiang, meaning all five PLA commands are now using it.

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Two-Year Review: What Campaign Promises Has Biden Kept Since Clinching White House?

Today marks the second anniversary of President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Biden, like all Presidential candidates, made countless campaign promises to voters. Halfway through his first and possibly only term, what has Biden delivered to voters what promises has he broken or failed to deliver?

Read on to see how Biden has fared!

Supreme Court Marshal: 'No Credible Leads' Any Justices Behind Dobbs Decision Leak

The head of security for the US Supreme Court said on Friday the service had no reason to suspect any of the Supreme Court Justices were behind the May 2022 leaking of a draft majority opinion to the press.

“During the course of the investigation, I spoke with each of the justices, several on multiple occasions,” US Supreme Court Marshal Gail Curley said in a statement. “The justices actively cooperated in this iterative process, asking questions and answering mine. I followed up on all credible leads, none of which implicated the justices or their spouses. On this basis, I did not believe that it was necessary to ask the justices to sign sworn affidavits.”