🇮🇱🇮🇷 Israeli secret police claim spying for Iran jumped fourfold in 2024

According to Israel's Shin Bet internal security service, the number of Israelis arrested and accused of spying for Iran skyrocketed by about 400% in 2024.

The agency claimed that 27 Israelis have been indicted in connection with 13 "serious espionage affairs" that were supposedly "exposed and thwarted" by Shin Bet's efforts, which, alongside the Army’s Aman and Mossad, forms one of the three key intelligence services in the Jewish State.

In addition, Shin Bet noted a significant rise in cyber threats, claiming a fivefold increase in their numbers over the past year.

Amid the dramatic purported spike in spying, the agency seemed baffled by the alleged recruitment efforts, stating it has seen a diverse range of recruits, from ultra-Orthodox citizens and new immigrants to citizens leading "ordinary secular bourgeois lifestyles."

Iran, perhaps unsurprisingly, has yet to officially address Shin Bet's allegations or its figures.

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🥶 Europe braces for deep freeze as Ukraine cuts off Russian gas

Europe is preparing for a harsh winter in January, with gas reserves set to drop following Ukraine's block on Russian gas transit, Bloomberg reports.

🔸 Gas Transit Halt: Plummeting temperatures come in the wake of Ukraine halting gas transits from Russia amidst Europe's ongoing energy sanctions against Moscow.

🔸 UK Weather Warning: The UK is bracing for snow and ice with a yellow warning issued for the next five days. The UK Health Security Agency has warned of high risks from low temperatures until at least January 8.

🔸 Scandinavian Storms: Norway and Sweden have been hit by a winter storm with temperatures in Oslo expected to drop as low as -15°C by January 5.

🔸 Polar Vortex: The unusually cold weather in Europe is caused by a polar vortex and is expected to persist in the UK, France, Germany and Nordic countries through January and potentially into February, according to Maxar Technologies.

🔸 Gas Reserves Depleted: Bloomberg notes that cold weather and poor wind generation means Europe has to use more gas from its reserves than usual for this time of year. Gas stores have reportedly fallen below 75%.

🔸 Wind Generation Problems: Wind speeds were already low in November across Europe and are likely to remain below average in January, driving up electricity prices as freezing weather lingers.

🔸 Slovak PM's Warning: Under the conditions, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's warning gains new significance. “Halting gas transit via Ukraine will have a drastic impact on us all in the EU – but not on the Russian Federation,” Fico said in a New Year’s address on January 1.

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Ex-CIA analyst doesn’t buy FBI’s New Year’s Day terror narrative, highlights potential Ukrainian intel trace

💬 “Right now, the FBI is trying to present this as what they call a ‘lone wolf individual’, acting on his own by himself. I know that’s the story. I don’t find it to be particularly credible,” former CIA analyst Larry Johnson told Sputnik, commenting on the New Year’s Day incidents.

“Let’s start with the fact that the initial news reports presented this as a further sign of the lack of control over immigration in the United States. This had nothing to do with illegal migrants. These were two US citizens, both,” Johnson stressed, pointing out that the Las Vegas suspect was an active-duty Green Beret, and the New Orleans attacker an Army vet.

The observer called reports of the New Orleans attacker’s alleged ISIS* affiliation "curious and ironic," noting the US government's tendency to label individuals as terrorists while simultaneously working with them, as seen in Syria today and Afghanistan since the 1980s.

The second problem is the FBI’s utter lack of credibility, highlighted by the Russiagate affair, Johnson said.

“I can't rule out the possibility that this individual was acting as part of a broader effort to create chaos and instability in the United States prior to the inauguration of Donald Trump to prevent Trump from being inaugurated. Because Trump is seen as a potential existential threat to organizations like the FBI, the CIA, [and] the Department of Justice,” the veteran intel analyst said.

Johnson has several questions about the New Orleans incident, such as who planted the two IEDs and where the money came from, considering the suspect was reportedly broke and had no explosives or firearms training, serving in the Army’s HR department.

The Las Vegas suspect, as an active-duty Special Forces NCO, “did have the training with weapons and explosives, which in turn begs the question of how did he blow himself up?” Johnson asked, adding that the social media photo of the suspect wearing a ‘Slava Ukraini’ T-shirt begs the question of whether he ever traveled to Ukraine or had any contacts with Ukrainian intelligence.

“Because this very well could have been had a tie into Ukraine. Carrying out an attack on the Trump Tower. Because they recognize Donald Trump is going to potentially bring an end to this war,” Johnson said.

* Terrorist group banned in Russia

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🔸 Ex-CIA analyst doesn’t buy FBI’s New Year’s Day terror narrative, highlights potential Ukrainian intel trace

🔸 Year of turmoil: 2024’s bitter lessons for the Middle East

🔸 Swindling, scam and war racket: West turned Ukraine into a cesspit of corruption

🔸 Qasem Soleimani: holy warrior against US imperialism, Zionism and Takfiri terrorism

🔸 Bill Gates turns mosquitoes into ‘flying syringes’, but who controls what they inject?

🔸 New US military base under construction near Aleppo in Northern Syria

🔸 Trailblazer in space: Soviet Luna 1 pioneering Sun orbit

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🚨 Las Vegas Cybertruck driver likely shot himself before explosion – Police

💬 “The individual had sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the detonation of the vehicle. One of the handguns was found at his feet,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said Thursday.

The sheriff added that law enforcement officials believe what happened was a suicide.

McMahill also stated that the man's identity was confirmed through identification found in the vehicle, as well as tattoos on his body.

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⚔️ Biden discussed potential US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites – reports

In a secret meeting several weeks ago, President Joe Biden discussed military options for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities if Tehran accelerates its nuclear weapons development, Axios reported, citing three sources.

The meeting, led by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, was part of "prudent scenario planning" rather than a decision to strike. Biden did not approve any military action, and no new intelligence prompted the meeting. The discussion centered on concerns that Iran could enrich uranium to 90% purity before January 20.

A US official confirmed to the media that the meeting was focused on contingency planning, not a final decision, and added that there are currently no active discussions on military action. Some of Biden’s advisers have suggested that Iran's alleged nuclear progress and its conflict with Israel could present "an opportunity to strike." However, no formal recommendation was made, according to the report.

Biden has expressed concerns about whether Iran’s actions justify a strike, especially with the transition to a new administration approaching.

Talk of a strike on Iran isn’t new. Last month, sources told the Wall Street Journal that Trump’s team considered military action against Iran’s nuclear program. Former CIA chief Leon Panetta warned that such a move could risk a regional war. These discussions highlight the failure of over 40 years of US sanctions, threats, and regime change attempts, which have pushed Iran toward greater self-sufficiency and regional influence.

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⚔️ Three Israeli fighter jets strike Syrian defense industry sites and research facility in Aleppo province – reports

The targeted defense plants and science facility are located near the city of As-Safira, east of Aleppo, according to local media reports.

Video from social media

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🛬 Eleven Injured as small plane crashes into building in Fullerton, California, ABC7 reported

Earlier, the Fullerton Police Department announced the crash and the resulting fire.

Video from social media

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⚡️ South Korean military blocks investigators from arresting impeached president Yoon at his residence – reports

💬 “Investigators attempting to detain Yoon blocked by military unit inside presidential residence compound,” Yonhap reported.

Earlier, Yonhap stated that investigators from South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) had entered the presidential residence on Friday to execute a detention warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

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❗️ One dead, 15 injured in plane crash in Fullerton, California – Police

The Fullerton Police Department confirmed one death and 15 injuries after a small plane crashed into a building in Fullerton, California.

An investigation is underway, the department added.

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The death toll from a small plane crash in Fullerton, California, has risen to 2, with 18 injured, the Fullerton Police Department said in an update

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