🤡 Pentagon Concedes More than Double US Personnel Deployed in Syria than Previously Announced

Pentagon spox Pat Ryder claimed he had "recently learned" there are actually 2,000 US troops deployed in Syria - far more than the 900 they had previously announced.

But he insisted they had nothing to do with the Assad coup…

Wonder why the Pentagon has failed 7 audits in a row? 🤔

@RiseGS

🇭🇺 Orbán Urges EU to Wait for Trump Before Extending Sanctions Against Russia": Hungarian PM Blocks New Anti-Russia Sanctions Package

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told EU leaders that he wants to wait for the inauguration of his ally Donald Trump before deciding whether to extend the bloc’s sanctions against Russia, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The EU has imposed 15 sanction packages against Moscow over the Ukrainian conflict, which must be renewed every six months.

Until now, this process has been routine, but extending sanctions requires unanimous support from all 27 member states, giving Orbán the power to veto. At the end of a one-day EU summit, Orbán surprised his colleagues by declaring he was not ready to move forward with the renewal, sources reported.

Orbán’s objection has sparked significant concern among European leaders, raising fears that the Hungarian leader could align with Trump to undermine the bloc’s unity on financial and military support for Ukraine.

@ukraine_watch

🔤 Budget Responsible for UK Economy Stagnation - Bank of England

Stagnation has occurred after UK businesses responded to Rachel Reeves’ budget by raising prices and cutting jobs, the BoE has warned.

Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.

The BoE highlighted the impact of the chancellor’s decision to increase the employers’ rate of national insurance in her budget, and the national living wage.

@RiseGS

🇪🇺🇺🇦The European Council called its formulation that “Ukraine must win this war” erroneous, reports the American publication Politico.

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⚠️ Malaysia Resumes the Hunt for MH370

Malaysia’s govt has agreed to launch a new search for flight MH370, nearly a decade after its mysterious disappearance, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced Friday.

The search will be undertaken by US-UK-based company Ocean Infinity, which has proposed exploring a new area of approx 15,000 square kilometres in the southern Indian Ocean.

Ocean Infinity, a US-based robotics company, will only be paid a $70mn bounty if significant wreckage is found and recovered.

@RiseGS

🤔 Alternative Headline: Senior US Diplomats Engage with Terrorists with Guidance from CIA

@RiseGS

🚫 Trump Tells EU to Commit to “Large Scale” US Oil & Gas Purchases or Face Tariffs (Reuters)

“I told the EU that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the US by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas," Trump posted on Truth Social Friday.

"Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!," he added.

The EU is already buying the lion's share of US oil and gas exports, according to US govt data, and no additional volumes are available at its current output.

@RiseGS

📣 Kremlin Warns G7 Sanctions Will Backfire

G7 countries are reportedly exploring options to toughen the price cap on Russian oil - from implementing a full ban on handling Russian crude to lowering the price threshold from the current $60 to about $40. (Bloomberg)

When asked about Russia’s concerns if these scenarios materialis, Kremlin spox Dmitry Peskov warned there would “certainly” be risks to the stability of international energy markets.

“This will inevitably happen and will hit simultaneously those countries that make such decisions,” Peskov noted.

@RiseGS

⚠️ Oliver Stone: ‘Iran is the F*cking Next Target for “Madman” Netanyahu’

‘Iran has blown up the Middle East, it’s just like they’re remaking the Middle East,’ the filmmaker said.

Adding that the ‘US is in Netanyahu’s pocket.’

@RiseGS