📊 Half of Americans oppose Trump's tariff plan on China and Mexico

Half of US voters oppose President-elect Donald Trump's plan to increase tariffs on imports from China and Mexico, according to a recent Ipsos poll for the New York Times.

The poll, conducted from January 2 to 10, showed that 50% of respondents disagreed with the proposed tariffs while 46% supported them.

Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on Mexican goods and 10% on Chinese imports, which experts warn could harm key US industries and global trade. The survey also found that 81% of people believe Trump will follow through on his promise.

Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard warned on Friday that targeting both Mexico and China could hurt the entire industrial sector.

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Elon Musk blasts LA mayor as fires rage

Elon Musk criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for prioritizing politics over helping people during the city's raging wildfires.

Reports reveal that just days before the fires broke out on January 7, Bass pushed for a $49 million budget cut for fire services – leading to the closure of 16 fire stations.

The fires, now the largest in California’s history, have burned over 16,000 hectares, killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 12,300 buildings, including celebrity’s homes. Dry, windy weather fueled the rapid spread of the flames.

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AfD wants Ukrainian refugees gone – now

Katrin Ebner-Steiner, the leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) group in Bavaria's state parliament, has called for the immediate expulsion of all Ukrainian refugees from Germany.

To prevent the country from being "flooded with welfare recipients unwilling to integrate," the AfD is pushing for a "comprehensive re-migration." That includes deporting criminals and foreigners without residence status.

Ebner-Steiner said all Ukrainian refugees, including approximately 1.2 million people across Germany and up to 200,000 in Bavaria, should leave immediately, arguing that Ukraine has enough land for them to return to.

The regional MP also suggested building fences along Germany's borders and allowing Bavarian cities to declare a "state of emergency" to deny refugees shelter. Instead of welfare payments, she proposed giving refugees necessary goods.

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Russia has won, Ukraine’s fate hinges on Moscow’s next step – ex-Pentagon advisor

Russia has already won the conflict in Ukraine and the only remaining question is how far it will want to advance westward, former Pentagon advisor Colonel Douglas MacGregor posted on social media.

Moscow has repeatedly expressed its readiness for negotiations, but Kiev has decreed a ban on talks. The West continues to ignore Ukraine’s refusal of dialogue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that if Ukraine truly desires peace, it needs to cancel the decree banning negotiations instead of making symbolic gestures.

Last June, Putin outlined his peace proposals, including a ceasefire, Ukrainian withdrawal from new Russian territories and a commitment by Kiev to renounce its aim to join NATO, demilitarize and adopt a neutral, non-nuclear status.

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Trump, not Biden, secured Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that it was US president-elect Donald Trump, not incumbent Joe Biden, who played the key role in securing the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The deal, which involves the release of hostages, was achieved with the help of Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Eide praised Trump and Witkoff for their efforts, rejecting the idea that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have free rein under Trump.

He noted that while Biden made the right statements, Trump’s ability to cut deals made him more effective in reaching a resolution.

The ceasefire deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US, calls for a 42-day truce starting January 19, 2025.

That includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and the promise of increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. The agreement aims to end the 15-month conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and spread to neighboring countries.

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The IDF are preparing to welcome the hostages after a ceasefire agreement was reached

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💸Trump’s cryptocurrency surges 5x in less than a day

Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency, OFFICIAL TRUMP (launched yesterday) skyrocketed from $7 to $36.81 in under 24 hours.

Trading volume exceeded $10 billion, according to cryptocurrency exchange data.

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🤝Stay updated on the upcoming Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire is set to begin at 06:30 GMT on Sunday. Here’s an update regarding the hostage exchange part of the deal:

What is Hamas doing?

🔹 The Palestinian movement has been delaying the transfer of a list of hostages to be released for technical reasons, reported Israeli Ynet news outlet.

🔹 Hamas members communicate “physically via emissaries and it takes time to agree on the names and the location of the hostages when [Israeli military] planes are still above them,” a source told Ynet.

🔹 Thirty-three of the 98 remaining Israeli hostages are expected to be freed by Hamas, while Israel is to set free almost 2,000 jailed Palestinians in the first phase of the deal.

🔹 Hamas is expected to release three living female captives in exchange for 95 Palestinians, most of them women and children, on Sunday, Al Jazeera reported.

What is Israel doing?

🟠 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his country would not move forward with the deal until Hamas supplies the list of hostages.

🟠 Israel has also reserved the right to resume fighting if the deal falls apart.

🟠 As part of the deal, the Israeli military in Rafah has begun withdrawing from the center of the city towards the Philadelphi Corridor, located on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported.

🟠 Israeli forces carried out several attacks last night, striking Gaza City in the north, Deir el-Balah and Nuseirat in the center, and Rafah and Khan Younis in the south, Al Jazeera reported.

🟠 Israel is expected to ease its blockade of Gaza, and allow in 600 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies.

President-elect Donald Trump plans to meet with Netanyahu “fairly shortly,” and warned that the ceasefire and hostage deal had “better hold,” NBC reported.

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🚫TikTok unavailable in US, app disappears from App Store

The TikTok social network has stopped opening for users in the US, its app is not available in the App Store.

"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!" the notification says.

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❗️The Israeli military has begun withdrawing its Givati and Nahal brigades from the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s Channel 12 posted on X

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⚡️Ceasefire begins in the Gaza Strip

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire officially began at 06:30 GMT.

From this point forward, military operations on both sides are temporarily halted under the terms of the agreement.

❗️The first phase of the ceasefire will last 42 days, during which 33 Israeli hostages are set to be released.

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🟠 Stay updated on the upcoming Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange

🟠 Trump vs. the neocons on Ukraine: can he really stop the proxy war against Russia?

🟠 Russia has won, Ukraine’s fate hinges on Moscow’s next step – ex-Pentagon advisor

🟠 Trump's Greenland dream: Radioactive legacy beneath the ice

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Israel recovers soldier’s body held in Gaza since 2014

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the return of the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier killed during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge.

The recovery was made possible through a special operation conducted by the Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) just before the ceasefire came into effect.

Shaul’s body had been held in Gaza since 2014.

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