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Bowen: Syria's rebel offensive is astonishing - but don't write off Assad

The country's president has already shown he is prepared to go to brutal lengths to save his regime.

December 2, 2024 at 7:27 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Sudan conflict: BBC hears of horror and hunger in massacre town El Geneina

Massacres scar the town of El Geneina in Darfur, now a near-empty city as Sudan's 19-month war grinds on.

Hunter Biden pardon live updates: Joe Biden issues 'full and unconditional' pardon for son

December 2, 2024 at 7:17 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.bbc.com/news/live/c4...

Also on BBC

The US president repeatedly said he would not give his son clemency over gun and tax evasion charges.

Biden admin ‘would like to ensure’ FBI remains ’insulated from politics,’ NSA Jake Sullivan says

December 2, 2024 at 7:11 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

WATCH: FBI should remain 'insulated from politics,' warns NSA Jake Sullivan www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...

Watch live on NBC

National security adviser Jake Sullivan reacts to President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, during an interview with Meet the Press.

www.nbcnews.com

December 2, 2024 at 7:10 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

GOP Sen. Mike Rounds expresses support for FBI director a day after Trump picks his replacement www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

From NBC. Trump administration is full of crooks

GOP Sen. Mike Rounds expresses support for FBI director a day after Trump picks his replacement

The South Dakota senator noted that Donald Trump nominated Wray to the position during his first term and that FBI directors usually serve for 10 years.

www.nbcnews.com

December 2, 2024 at 7:08 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe...

Also from NBC. Trump will pardon Capitol Building attackers. We live in a strange world

President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden

The decision, which was first reported by NBC News, is a reversal for the president, who repeatedly said he would not use his authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.

www.nbcnews.com

December 2, 2024 at 7:06 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/12/01/e...

From CNN

Putin approves record defense spending – a third of Russia’s budget | CNN

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a record-breaking defense budget, setting aside a staggering third of the government’s total spending as the war in Ukraine drains resources from both sid...

Syrian and Russian jets step up strikes on rebels after opposition seizes much of Aleppo | CNN

December 2, 2024 at 7:01 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/12/01/m...

From CNN. Horrible

Syrian and Russian jets are stepping up strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in retaliation for the sudden offensive that has cost the regime control of the country’s second largest city, Al...

Countries fail to reach agreement in UN plastic talks | CNN

December 2, 2024 at 6:59 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/12/01/w...

From CNN. Horrible

Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution have failed to reach agreement, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production while a handful of oil-producers were prepared only...

Analysis: Biden’s pardon of his son pours fuel on Trump’s claims of politicized justice | CNN Politics

December 2, 2024 at 6:58 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/p...

Will be interesting to see

From CNN

President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter deepened an entanglement of politics and the rule of law that has tarnished faith in American justice and is almost certain to worsen in Donald Trump’s s...

President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden | CNN Politics

December 2, 2024 at 6:57 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/12/01/p...

From CNN. Fair. No big offenses unlike Trump. He said he would pardon Capital Building attackers

President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he has pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing this month for federal tax and gun convictions, marking a reversal as he prepares to leave office.

Trump threatens 100% tariff on BRICS countries if they pursue creating new currency | CNN Politics

December 2, 2024 at 6:56 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/p...

From CNN

President-elect Donald Trump said he would require countries that are part of BRICS — a China- and Russia-backed group of emerging economies — to commit to not creating new currency or face 100% tarif...

Nearly 1,000 endangered animals repatriated to Madagascar in anti-trafficking landmark | CNN

December 1, 2024 at 3:31 PM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/a...

From CNN

Thailand is sending almost 1,000 highly endangered tortoises and lemurs home to Madagascar in a landmark victory against animal trafficking, with the first batch on its way on Saturday.

November 30, 2024 at 1:36 PM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Rupert Grint: Harry Potter star to pay £1.8m after losing tax battle

The former Harry Potter star is ordered to pay the sum after losing a tax appeal.

November 30, 2024 at 9:40 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Irish general election: Exit poll suggests tight three-way race

Voters have been casting their ballot to choose representatives to serve in the Irish parliament.

November 30, 2024 at 9:34 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Ukraine war: Zelensky says Nato membership could end 'hot phase'

But Zelensky points out no-one has yet made such an offer and whether Nato would consider a move is doubtful.

November 30, 2024 at 9:20 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Georgia: Thousands protest in Tbilisi after EU bid suspended

Thousands gather in Tbilisi for a second night running, after the government suspended its EU membership bid.

November 30, 2024 at 9:19 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Hitman offered $71,000 for Canadian reporter's assassination

Daniel Renaud was targeted while covering hitman Frédérick Silva's trial in 2021, La Presse reports.

November 30, 2024 at 9:18 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Aleppo: Syria rebels 'control majority of the city', say observers

Russia launched air raids in parts of the city overnight "for the first time since 2016", a monitoring group said.

Gaza’s hopes for ceasefire dim despite renewed US efforts following Lebanon truce | CNN

November 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/m...

From CNN

As an uneasy truce between Israel and Hezbollah offers the Lebanese a desperately needed reprieve, Palestinians in Gaza feel abandoned, even as the US pushes for a renewed effort to end the fighting i...

Explosion damages canal feeding Kosovo power plants; PM alleges Serbian ‘terrorist attack’ | CNN

November 30, 2024 at 9:11 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/11/29/e...

From CNN

Pristina, Kosovo (Reuters) - An explosion on Friday evening damaged a canal in northern Kosovo supplying water to two coal-fired power plants that generate nearly all of the country’s electricity, Pri...

Trump has assembled a team of China hawks. How will Beijing respond? | CNN

November 30, 2024 at 9:08 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/11/29/c...

From CNN

One called China an “existential threat.” Another called for a “whole-of-society effort” to confront China and was sanctioned – twice – by Beijing. A third claimed the Chinese military was “specifical...

Analysis: Trump’s Ukraine envoy has a plan to end the war that Putin may revel in | CNN

November 30, 2024 at 9:07 AM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Today it’s Black Friday. Terrible waste of product

🇫🇮😎🇫🇮

November 29, 2024 at 4:52 PM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

Just watched Monkeys Springing Money on Netflix with my wife.

Highly recommended.

Must confess though that I have stocks in Amazon, Apple and similar

November 29, 2024 at 4:28 PM

Erkki Heliö

@erkkih.bsky.social

www.cnn.com/2024/11/29/e...

From CNN

In a single post, the president-elect told the world what the end of the Ukraine war might look like. And it is going to be a big diplomatic ask, to say the least.