Trump’s January 6 clemency pledge: What to expect?

Expectations are high for President-elect Donald Trump to deliver on his promise to swiftly hand out pardons to those involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, Bloomberg reports.

“Any early action on Jan. 6 pardons would set the tone for how he [Trump] might wield the presidency to reward loyalists and punish opponents,” the agency pointed out.

GOP member urges release of all Jan. 6 rioters

The report comes as Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene said that she was lobbying Trump to pardon everyone who took part in the siege, saying that “many of these people have been in prison since 2021.”

“Even the ones that fought the Capitol Police and caused damage to the Capitol, I think they’ve served their time, and I think they should all be pardoned and released from prison. […] I think it’s an injustice. It’s a two-tiered justice system, and it’s time to end it,” she added.

What did Trump pledge?

Trump earlier told US media that he would “most likely” issue pardons to rioters within “the first hour” or even in the “first nine minutes” of his presidency, which kicks off on January 20.

What was fallout from Capitol riot?

Thousands of people gathered to attack the Capitol building in Washington on January 6, 2021, to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory, egged on by former president Trump’s claims of electoral fraud. Five people, including one police officer, died as a result of the attack. More than 140 police officers were injured.

More than 1,570 people have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials in connection with the attack, per the US attorney’s office in Washington. At least 645 were sentenced to prison time, with terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.

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Biden announced an official ban on drilling oil and gas wells offshore off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States

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What may be the purpose of China’s supposed 6th-gen warplane?

The sudden appearance of a supposed 6th-generation military aircraft in China’s skies last month prompted media and pundits alike to speculate about what this plane might be capable of and what combat role it might perform.

Some note that the aircraft’s tailless design suggests that it was built for stealth rather than dogfights.

This observation thus led to a theory that the new warplane, already dubbed “J-36” in the media, may be designed to take out airborne targets, such as enemy fighters and transport aircraft, at long range.

And yet others postulate that “J-36” may actually act as a command and control node, helping coordinate operations of various components of China’s air force, such as combat aircraft, early warning aircraft, and drones.

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🇦🇹 Austrian President Van der Bellen said he has given the mandate to form a coalition government to the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria.

On January 4, it became known that negotiations on forming a ruling coalition had failed and that Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer would resign. The politician would also leave the post of chairman of the ÖVP – the Austrian People's Party.

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🇨🇳📈China’s economy to grow 5% this year if Trump renounces trade war
 
External shocks are the key threat to China’s steady economic growth, an analysis by the Institute of International Relations (IMEMO), a leading Russian foreign policy think tank, shows.
 
🔶China has the potential for economic growth at a level of 5% by 2025, but stable conditions and a coordinated economic policy are required.
 
🔶External shocks, namely tariff hikes promised by Donald Trump, may deal a sensitive blow to Chinese businesses, reducing export revenues, slowing down GDP growth, and creating tensions on the job market.
 
🔶Trump had repeatedly vowed to introduce additional tariffs on products from China. On November 25, he specified the plans to add 10% to tariffs on Chinese goods.
 
🔶China will likely respond to US actions with a new stimulus package that will include excessive monetary policy easing and an increase in domestic debt The US may try to isolate China from the advanced technologies market, with Beijing, in turn, responding with an expansion of domestic hi-tech production and import substitution.
 
🔶US economic pressure is unlikely to make China more compliant or persuade Beijing to make economic concessions to Washington, the research concludes.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed agreement with Russia to include defense issues

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and Iran encompasses various dimensions in the fields of economy, trade, energy, environment, and issues related to defense and security, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Earlier, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic to Russia Kazem Jalali said that the Russian-Iranian agreement would be signed on January 17, 2025 in Moscow during negotiations between the presidents of the two countries.

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Nippon Steel and US Steel initiated legal action against President Joe Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's proposed purchase of its American counterpart. The two companies are challenging the move, arguing that the Biden administration's intervention is unlawful and unwarranted.

In a joint statement, they announced the filing of two lawsuits aimed at addressing what they described as "unlawful interference" with Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel, asserting that the president's actions were driven by political motives rather than legal grounds.

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Nearly 50 people killed in Gaza Strip due to Israeli strikes in past day, according to the Gaza Strip's health ministry.

At least 49 people have been killed, and 75 injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past day, the Gaza Strip's health ministry said.

"Over the last 24 hours, the Israeli occupation carried out three mass killings of families in the Gaza Strip. Hospitals received 49 fatalities and 75 injured individuals," the statement read.

Overall, since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 45,854, with more than 109,000 people wounded, the ministry added.

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Did Democrats lie to Americans about Biden's mental capacity?

Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer denied accusations that the party misled Americans about President Joe Biden's mental health when questioned by NBC News host Kristen Welker on Sunday.

“We didn’t,” Schumer asserted. “And let’s look at President Biden. He’s had an amazing record... And when he stepped down, he did it on his own because he thought it was better not only for the Democratic Party but for America.”

How did the alleged cover-up unfold?

▪️In February 2024, Schumer dismissed concerns about Biden's mental acuity as "right-wing propaganda," stating, “His mental acuity is great. It’s as good as it’s been over the years.”

▪️However, in early June 2024, the WSJ reignited the discussion, raising questions about Biden's health that CNN downplayed as a Republican tactic to undermine his 2024 presidential campaign.

▪️In late December 2024, the Wall Street Journal published a report detailing "how the White House functioned with a diminished Biden in charge" during his tenure. The report claimed aides controlled access to him, shortened meetings, and noscripted public appearances while denying signs of his cognitive decline.

Democratic Party substitutes Biden with Harris

▪️The Democratic strategy to shield Biden’s image held up until the June 27 debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump. Following a widely criticized performance, top Democrats and prominent public figures openly urged Biden to step aside.

▪️After Trump’s victory, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg—who had invested heavily in Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign—fiercely criticized the Democratic Party for concealing Biden’s decline and selecting Harris as his replacement.

▪️Despite admissions from Democratic donors acknowledging the party’s awareness of Biden’s decline, top Democrats continue to deny allegations of deception.

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Close to Ukraine’s ‘industrial heart’: Why does Russia’s liberation of Kurakhovo matter?

The liberation of Kurakhovo adds greatly to Russian troops’ advance on western front lines, political and military analyst Sergey Poletaev told Sputnik.

On January 6, the Russian military fully freed the strategic city of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated, dubbing the city the largest settlement in southwest Donbass.

What does it mean for Russian forces?

👉Logistics: The capture of Kurakhovo will significantly complicate logistical support for the Ukrainian military in the DPR and will deprive Kiev forces of the ability to shell the regional capital Donetsk. 

Poletaev pointed out that “it reflects very serious problems in the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” which will only worsen in the near future.

👉 Tactics: Following the takeover of Kurakhovo, a powerful fortified area with a developed network of firing positions and underground communications, Russian assault units will have significant room to maneuver, which will in turn increase the pace of liberation of the DPR territory.

👉 Resources: Poletaev said that the seizure of Kurakhovo clears the way for Russian troops to advance on the Dnepropetrovsk region, described by US media as Ukraine’s “industrial heart.”

There are many industrial enterprises in the region related to the military-industrial complex, including the Pavlograd Chemical Plant, which produces explosives, and Yuzhmash, which deals with rocket technologies.

👉 Political image: “I am sure that Kiev held on to Kurakhovo because of [Donald] Trump's upcoming inauguration, so as not to lose face and use the city as a bargaining chip in possible peace talks with Moscow,” Poletaev said.

Volodymyr Zelensky will face reputational risks as “everyone will now point to Kurakhovo as a sign of Ukrainian forces’ weakness,” the analyst concluded.

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❗️Brazil, which holds the BRICS presidency, announced Indonesia's accession to the organization as a full member.

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⚡️ Justin Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party leader

🇨🇦 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as the head of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Trudeau says he will resign as Canadian prime minister as soon as the new leader of the ruling Liberal Party is elected, adding that he is proroguing the Canadian parliament till March 24.

Trudeau, who led the party for 11 years, made this announcement as his popularity in the country nearly hit rock bottom.

He also has been facing pressure to step down as prime minister following the December 16 resignation of his Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland who claimed that she and Trudeau had been "at odds" over the best path forward for Canada.

Also, the Canadian Parliament's Public Accounts Committee has been expected to hold a meeting on January 7 to consider a motion of no-confidence in Trudeau’s government.

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