❗️ Romanian Presidential Candidate Georgescu calls cancellation of 1st round's results a 'coup'

💬 "The recent decision of the country's Constitutional Court is not only a legal but also a political act that constitutes a coup d'état," Georgescu said in a video message, adding that Romania's judiciary has lost its independence and is subordinated to political orders.

Romania held its presidential election on November 24. Georgescu advanced to the runoff election along with Elena Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union. The second round was initially scheduled for December 8, but the Constitutional Court ruled to annul the results of the first round of the presidential election and said that the government must set the new date for the vote.

Georgescu has openly criticized Bucharest's role in the Ukraine conflict, accusing NATO and the EU of neglecting Romania’s interests and highlighting that American defense contractors are exploiting the war for profit.

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What does Trump’s ‘crypto czar’ move mean for the future of cryptocurrency in US?

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that venture capitalist and former PayPal COO David Sacks is going to be the “White House AI & Crypto Czar.”

Announcing this appointment via a post on his Truth Social media network, Trump said that Sacks will “guide policy” in the fields of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

Having described AI and crypto as “areas critical to the future of the American competitiveness,” Trump boasted that his new czar will “focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas.”

▪️The recent surge of cryptocurrency markets, where the price of Bitcoin reached $100,000, has already been partly attributed to Trump’s decisions by media.

▪️Trump himself has appeared to have taken credit for this surge, saying on Truth Social on December 5: “Congratulations bitcoiners!!! $100,000!!! You are welcome!!! Together, we will Make America Great Again!”

▪️Though it remains to be seen how exactly this move may affect the future of cryptocurrency in the United States, Trump does seem intent to promote further advancements in this field.

▪️His pick for the next head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission is Paul Atkins, founder of a cryptocurrency lobbying group called Token Alliance, for example.

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Prosecutor blocks lawsuit against EU’s Ursula von der Leyen over Pfizergate

"The European Prosecutor's Office made a move that effectively blocked the court proceedings," activist Frédéric Baldan tells Sputnik, explaining why the Belgian court was unable to review charges against the European Commission president due to the intervention.

A hearing took place on Friday at the Liège Palace of Justice, focusing on potential violations in the procurement of coronavirus vaccines by von der Leyen. The hearing was closed to the public, and von der Leyen is currently abroad.

The prosecutor secretly contested the case, arguing that von der Leyen should be immune from prosecution due to her official duties.

As a result, the judge postponed the hearings indefinitely.

The issue of whether von der Leyen’s immunity applies to the charges will be addressed on January 6. Baldan believes the European Prosecutor's Office acted in her favor.

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🇸🇾 Syrian army destroys terrorist units in Homs province – Defense Ministry

The Syrian Armed Forces, supported by Russian combat aircraft, successfully destroyed terrorist units in northern Homs province, the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Syrian forces eliminated up to 200 terrorists, 15 armored vehicles, two multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), 15 drones, and two command posts over the past day.

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Did Calin Georgescu’s election triumph scare NATO and the Romanian establishment?

Romania's Constitutional Court has annulled the first round presidential election results, where Calin Georgescu won with 22.9%. This follows US threats to withhold security aid if Romania shifted its foreign policy. Prosecutors are also investigating Georgescu over claims of Russian interference.

What is this probe all about?

The prosecutors are focusing on “declassified files” with the allegations that:

▪️Money laundering and other illegal activities occurred during Georgescu’s “highly organized campaign” that was run exclusively on TikTok.

▪️The campaign was purportedly co-ordinated by a “state actor” and financed by players outside Romania.

▪️The price tag stood at $1.06 million.

▪️Georgescu is “Moscow’s man" and reportedly has links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Georgescu vehemently denies all the accusations, telling Western media that he had spent "zero" on his TikTok campaign and had “zero” ties with Putin, whom he praised as "a patriot and a leader".

The 62-year-old scientist-turned-politician also said:

▪️As for the probe, it was launched because Romanian authorities “are afraid” and “desperate.”

▪️The authorities “can't accept that the Romanian people finally said, 'we want our life back, our country, our dignity’.”

▪️This was echoed by Georgescu's spokesperson, who told reporters that "The fact they declassified the files is just another try of the political system to stop him from winning by using the media and the fake news programs."

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🧐 To believe, or not to believe, that is the question

💬 “The next time the President says he will or won’t do something, why should the American people believe him?” a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a press briefing.

💬 “I don’t have anything else to add. I answered the question,” Jean-Pierre claimed.

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❗️ South Korean president apologizes for imposing martial law – reports

Yoon Suk-yeol promised that he would not impose martial law again, according to Yonhap News Agency.

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South Korean President says he is ready to take responsibility for the introduction of martial law – reports

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stated that he will not avoid political and legal responsibility in connection with the earlier declaration of martial law in the country, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing his address.

Meanwhile, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of South Korea's ruling party, said that President Yoon Suk-yeol’s resignation would be inevitable, according to the media.

South Korea’s parliament will vote on a call for an investigation into the country’s First Lady, Kim Kyung-hee, before considering the president’s impeachment, the report said.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is expected to open a plenary session at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday (8:00 a.m. GMT) to vote on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is accused of attempting a violent seizure of power and abusing his authority by imposing martial law without proper grounds and in violation of the law.

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