(MAINSTREAM MEDIA SOURCES USED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS POST INCLUDING FRANCE 24, BFM-TV ET. ETC.)
It's New Year's Eve in France and from 5pm this afternoon till 12 Noon on New Year's Day public transportation including buses, trams and the Metro in Paris will be free for all riders.
The media in France saying that President Emmanuel Macron faces big issues in 2023 like his push for pension "reform" as well as the energy issue in the face of supply challenges caused by the economic warfare against Russia over Ukraine.
Meanwhile there's been an appeal for a protest in Paris next Saturday January 7th...VIDEO LINK
The year 2023 "must not scare us" the message from Marine Le Pen.
Le Pen urging a political mobilization while noting the challenges for France from the "war in Ukraine" to inflation, the energy crisis and "endemic violence"
President Emmanuel Macron with a New Year message expressing his desire for the 'unity of the nation'.
And this evening fireworks at the Eiffel Tower...
And a crowd of one million people tonight on the Champs Elysees this evening as midnight approached and 2023 was welcomed in. Fireworks and a smoke show at the Arc de Triomphe...
And for now that's the story of France and the Yellow Vests for this week.
"CAN'T HELP MYSELF (SUGAR PIE, HONEY BUNCH)-THE FOUR TOPS
"SHORT PEOPLE"-RANDY NEWMAN
Here we are again for another attempt at media excellence looking at the beginning of 2023 a new year.
Will someone go "nuclear" in 2023 I think Joe Biden already did in two successive elections (2020 and 2022) using the FBI to censor his political opponents and to think in 2020 Biden wasn't even the Resident of the White House yet?
Will anything meaningful ever be done as a result of these criminal and authoritarian activities as tech companies other than Twitter are doing Lord knows what in response to current government requests here in the US.
What about all the other countries of this world the internet censorship now going on with government connivance with tech companies?
And all this propaganda spread telling us how bad China and Russia and other nations are how empty and meaningless it all is.
"I think the US-CIA MIC KEY call it what you will wants to hurt China so the stories the government and the MSM put out about China boggle the mind..."
Predictions for 2023 well I see some coming out of Russia from the former President and Prime Minister the Deputy Chairman of the National Security Council and newly minted Deputy Chief of Russia's Military Industrial Complex Dmitry Medvedev.
1. Germany and territories eastwards including the rump of Ukraine becoming the "Fourth Reich".
2. The UK rejoining the European Union.
3. A Civil War in the USA with California and Texas becoming independent.
4. Elon Musk emerging as President of some of the other US states.
A celebration of that legislation pushed through recently the "Respect for Marriage Act" to codify same-sex marriage signed by Joe Biden.
Notables at the event besides President Trump and Kari Lake were Morgan Ortagus the former State Department spokesperson President Trump pushed as a candidate for a congressional seat in Tennessee, US Representative Kat Cammack of Florida and President Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell.
"YOU WON'T SEE ME"-ANNE MURRAY AND CHICAGO (LIVE)
"COTTON JENNY"-ANNE MURRAY
"DANNY'S SONG"-ANNE MURRAY (LIVE)
BLAST FROM THE PAST-50 YEARS AGO
ANNE MURRAY ON THE RALPH EMERY RADIO SHOW JANUARY 4TH- 1973
Some good country music from 50 years ago and some conversation with Anne Murray 50 years ago she was a big part of the country music scene back then.
"The United States Really Owns Canada"
ANNE MURRAY SPEAKS 38 MINUTES INTO THE VIDEO
The host here the late Ralph Emery was talking about some of the negative vibes he picked up in Canada back in those days there was a lot of left-wing opposition to the Vietnam War and so on.
I used to get that sense just listening to CBC Radio in those days.
In the end the harsh reality is that Canada was as Anne Murray noted back then and as is true today Canada was under the thumb of the USA a subordinate nation.
IF YOU OR I WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WE COULD TELL CANADA TO DO SOMETHING WE WANT AND MAKE CANADA JUMP AS HIGH AS WE WANT.
THE SAD PART AS I NOTED NOT TOO MANY WEEKS AGO THAT STORY OF A CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVE SMUGGLING UNDERAGE GIRLS INTO SYRIA TO JOIN ISLAMIC STATE ALMOST A DECADE AGO.
THE CANADIAN OPERATIVE WAS REALLY DOING THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR THE USA.
"NOTHING FROM NOTHING"-BILLY PRESTON
"BANG-A-BOOMERANG"-ABBA
"LAYLA"-DEREK AND THE DOMINOES
Back with you on Saturday afternoon the musical party continues I will be driving five hours today and doing other stuff hope to be here live for some updates will wrap it up late tonight as the 2023 begins.
NEW YEAR'S EVE HERE IN THE USA AND IN FRANCE TODAY THE NORMAL PROTEST ACTIVITY ON THE BACK BURNER BUT HERE IS A YELLOW VESTS POST.
This coming Monday January 2nd will be the seventh anniversary of the Oregon Standoff Protest an event that led to this blog's beginning.
During that protest LaVoy Finicum killed on January 26, 2016 in what was called a "felony traffic stop" in which none of those arrested ended up being convicted of any crime for the protest including any felonies.
Seven years after the Oregon Standoff Protest the family of LaVoy Finicum continues to seek justice they will now ask for relief from the US Supreme Court...
The New Year's Eve Party carries on in the previous days in the bygone era the Big Bands played on New Year's Eve.
Here are some samples from New Year's Eve 1945 the bands that played live on the radio that night...
AND THE BAND LEADER WE TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRINGING IN OF A NEW YEAR WAS GUY LOMBARDO. HE DID IT ON THE RADIO AND THEN ON TELEVISION HERE IS THE DECEMBER 31, 1957 CBS-TV BROADCAST AS GUY LOMBARDO BRINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH ROBERT TROUT BROADCASTING FROM TIMES SQUARE....
Well early tomorrow as the New Year begins perhaps 1 am or so the next News Summary the first of the new year will post.
Good Night. God Bless.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BEST WISHES FOR 2023!
'AULD LANG SYNE'-GUY LOMBARDO AND HIS ROYAL CANADIANS
"HAPPY NEW YEAR"-ABBA
"I'VE HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE"-HARRY JAMES (WITH HELEN FORREST)
I grew up with many media experiences in the late 1960s and early 1970s including the NBC Today Show.
Watching Frank McGee or Frank Blair hosting, interviewing etc. etc. but there was also the prominent personality of Barbara Walters.
As I became more "Conservative" and "Political" I recall being extremely bothered by a segment Barbara Walters did with Norma Gabler.
Gabler was a very well-known conservative activist who consistently challenged the liberal biases of school textbooks in Texas.
Barbara Walters threw the firebomb question at her asking what gives you the right to challenge biased school textbooks.
The whole segment seemed to confirm what the radio preachers told me back then that television was biased to the Left.
One could also see the show biz aspect of that the creation of controversy the attempt to generate a response that was emotional in nature.
Barbara Walters father Lou had a long-time show business career with ups and downs and Barbara found herself in the thick of entertainment at an early age.
She worked in television and magazine jobs in the 1950's eventually landing at NBC's Today Show in 1961.
Walters did light segments on the show including one that aired 60 years ago December 31st, 1962.
"I enjoyed seeing you as a bunny"
HUGH DOWNS REACTS TO BARBARA WALTERS AS A PLAYBOY BUNNY IN A TODAY SHOW SEGMENT THAT AIRED 60 YEARS AGO TODAY DECEMBER 31, 1962...VIDEO LINK
But Barbara Walters always had more serious aspirations apparent in her hosting of a talk show called "Not for Women Only" with serious topical guests that aired on local television stations in New York and some other cities back in the early 1970's.
She got a break in the mid-1970's when ABC brought her on to co-anchor the news with Harry Reasoner.
It was a sad time for me as a news viewer watching Howard Smith moved to a lesser role on that network's evening news to accommodate her.
Her presence did nothing to change the ratings and eventually ABC News under the new leadership of Roone Arledge gave Barbara Walters shows featuring celebrity-newsmaker interviews.
Barbara Walters aggressively competed for interviews.
In 1977 as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat flew to Israel for an historic visit Walter Cronkite watched Walters bolt across the runway to get on the plane where he had arranged for his exclusive with Mr. Sadat.
And in the news business the "B-Eye-Itch" moniker was applied to her she was demanding of those she worked with and ready, willing and able to get anyone who did not meet her expectations fired.
Barabara Walters found success in an opportune time for women in media.
I responded to her with varied emotions including infatuation. I had this thing for Jewish women and it certainly clicked with Barbara Walters.
Generally speaking Barbara dressed professionally I would have wanted a pinup poster the other boys had them for Suzanne Somers or Farah Fawcett but alas no such poster existed for Barbara Walters back in the 1970's.
But today in my heart I want to think positively about her life and her work not have any impure or angry thoughts.
Here is a segment that Johnny Carson did on the "Tonight Show" with Barbara back in 1983...
(SERVICE WHEN ABLE WILL MAKE LAST POSTS LATER IN EVENING POSSIBLE UP TO MIDNIGHT EASTERN US TIME)
Andrew Tate will be held for 30 days following his arrest in Romania, the Democrats in Congress dump President Trump's tax returns and Putin and Xi hold a video conference but first...
LATE NEWS TONIGHT:
Here in Pennsylvania a Democrat judge saying the impeachment of "Progressive" Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner falls short of the state's constitutional standard for impeachment.
It's not clear if Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler's opinion will stop the impeachment trial of Krasner by the Republican controlled Pennsylvania State Senate.
The United Nations General Assembly has voted 87-26 with 53 abstentions to refer the matter of "Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories" to the International Court of Justice....AFP FRANCE-AL ARABIYA
BARBARA WALTERS, TV HOST AND NEWS ANCHOR, IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 93....ABC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT...
THE MISSILES FLEW 350 KILOMETERS (217.48 MILES) AT AN ATLTITUDE OF 100 KILOMETERS (62.1 MILES)...TASS RUSSIA
A federal appeals court in the US upholding a Florida high school's policy on restroom use.
The policy requires students to use restrooms corresponding to their gender at birth.
The decision a 7-4 majority of the entire appeals court...AL JAZEERA QATAR
The Arizona Court of Appeals ruling that doctors can't be prosecuted under the state's 1864 abortion law but the court is still keeping the law in place...ASSOCIATED PRESS-ABC NEWS US
Brazil's outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro boarding a Brazilian Air Force plane to Orlando, Florida two days before the inauguration of his successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro spoke to his supporters on social media indicating that the army and courts among others did want to get involved in questioning the election as he has.
He said that he is being persecuted for questioning the security of electronic voting machines.
Mr. Bolsonaro said that the world will not end when Mr. Lula take office on Sunday and that his supporters should not engage in acts of violence...
(Information from SBT News Brazil included in this story)
Joe Biden with six year-end pardons.
A woman convicted of murder and five others convicted of drug and alcohol related crimes on the Biden pardon list.
All six have already served their sentences...FOX NEWS
"I was in the front with a few others. I also orchestrated it"
A TEXT MESSAGE FROM JANUARY 6TH PERSONALITY RAY EPPS SENT TO HIS NEPHEW THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 6TH, 2021
We are now leaning more regarding the controversial January 6th personality Ray Epps.
Epps was seen on video in the streets of Washington the evening of January 5th urging people to go to the US Capitol the next day.
Now details of his testimony before the Democrat controlled US House January 6th Committee have been released...
Reaction from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia:
"Ray Epps should be in jail...those members of Congress should not be seated and should face serious ethics charges for abuse of power...they should have to pay for all the attorney fees for the people they politically persecuted."...
VARIOUS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TAKING VARIOUS MEASURES REGARDING ARRIVALS FROM CHINA.
SPAIN REQUIRING A NEGATIVE COVID TEST OR A VACCINATION CERTIFICATE FOR THOSE ENTERING FROM CHINA...NOS NETHERLANDS...
THE NETHERLANDS WILL OFFER SELF-COVID TESTS FOR ARRIVALS FROM CHINA...(NOS NETHERLANDS)...
MEANWHILE FRANCE WANTING NEGATIVE TESTS BEFORE PEOPLE LEAVE CHINA FOR FRANCE. THERE WILL BE RANDOM TESTING ON ARRIVAL ANYONE TESTING POSITIVE WILL HAVE TO ISOLATE.
ALSO FRANCE REQUIRING PEOPLE ON FLIGHTS FROM CHINA TO WEAR MASKS...(BFM-TV France)...
And England instituting a negative COVID test for travelers from China...BBC NEWS
In the face of US economic warfare against China's computer chip industry, Chinese chip makers revamping their strategy.
An industry official says a new focus is likely that will focus on the strengths of China's chip making...SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST HONG KONG
The United States is backing down some on tax credit rules for Electric Vehicle subsidies to appease the European Union and Asian allies.
The US will now allow European made EV's for commercial use to get the US tax credit when they are leased for business use.
This move by the Biden Administration criticized by Democrat US Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia saying it's inconsistent with the intent of the tax credit law...FOX NEWS
ISRAEL INDICTING TWO SOLDIERS WITH PLANS TO CHARGE A THIRD IN CONNECTION WITH A BOMB ATTACK ON A PALESTINIAN HOME...AL JAZEERA QATAR
BARRICADES HAVE BEEN REMOVED BY SERBS IN NORTHERN KOSOVO.
THE DECISION BY KOSOVO TO RELEASE A JAILED FORMER POLICE OFFICER TO HOUSE ARREST LED TO THE DECISION TO TAKE DOWN THE BARRICADES...TASS RUSSIA
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former democratically elected ruler of Myanmar (Burma) given more prison time by a military court today.
Aung San Suu Kyi handed a seven-year sentence.
She now has been given 33-years worth of prison sentences.
Suu Kyi is held under house arrest. Last week the UN Security Council approved a resolution calling for her release...BBC NEWS
A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATON FINDING THAT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DID NOT FOLLOW ITS STANDARD PROCEDURES TO APPROVE A TREATEMENT FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
ADUHELM IS MADE BY BIOGEN WHICH THE PROBE CLAIMS HAD 'ATYPICAL COLLABORATION AND INTERACTIONS' WITH THE FDA.
BOTH THE COMPANY AND THE FDA SAY THEIR DEALINGS WERE APPROPRIATE...ABC NEWS USA
In the Balkan nation of Montenegro a new Prime Minister Designate. Miodrag Lekic voted in but the vote drawing criticism from the European Union.
The political division in the small nation almost equal between a faction sympathetic to Russia and Serbia and another sympathetic to the European Union...REUTERS
"The Democrats should have never done it. The Supreme Court should have never approved it, and it's going to lead to horrible things for so many people"
That's part of a statement from President Donald Trump as the Democrats in the US House release tax returns for Mr. Trump...TRUTH SOCIAL MEDIA...
"The Matrix sent their agents"
That was posted on influencer Andrew Tate's Twitter account following his arrest by Romanian police.
His brother Tristan and two Romanian men also arrested.
A court allowing them to be held in detention for 30 days while an investigation is underway.
Much suspicion from Tate supporters since his arrest followed an online dispute with Greta Thunberg over "Climate" related matters...BBC NEWS STORY
In Arizona some official final vote numbers put out today including the very close contest for Attorney General.
There Democrat Kris Mayes said to be winner over Republican Abe Hamadeh by just 280 votes.
That is a closer finish that the original 511 vote margin for Mayes reported by Arizona counties...ARIZONA CENTRAL
AUTHORITIES IN AUSTRALIA (ABC News Australia) AND CANADA (CBC News) ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE UNITED STATES LEAD IN IMPOSING COVID TESTING ON PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM CHINA.
AND WHILE ITALY WILL IMPOSE A TESTING REQUIREMENT, EUROPEAN UNION HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY SUCH TESTING IS NOT NEEDED...BLOOMBERG
Most of the Dutch fishing fleet headed for scrap.
Various factors from Brexit to the Dutch government's plans for massive offshore windfarms cited.
Now higher diesel fuel prices also said to be contributing to the situation.
Three-quarters of Dutch fishing vessels now signed up for a government buyout scheme that will see the boats demolished...NOS NETHERLANDS (TRANSLATION PROMPT)
The Markets today moving upwards today.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 345.09 points or 1.05 percent in value.
The NASDAQ went up 264.80 points or 2.59 percent in value.
The price of oil at 78 dollars and 60 cents a barrel at 415 pm New York time...MARKETWATCH
NEW GOVERNMENT IN ISRAEL BECOMES OFFICIAL, NETANYAHU STRESSES IRAN, CRIME, DEVELOPMENT
Today the new government led by Benjamin Netanyahu took office in Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu spoke to Parliament saying his government is committed to stopping Iran's nuclear program, developing state infrastructure and restoring security and governance.
He also spoke of a government that will improve education and fight inflation.
Kiev and other cities were attacked by missiles today with 69 of them launched according to the Ukrainians and 54 of them shot down...BBC NEWS...
In the western city of Lvov electicity knocked out to 90 percent of the city with diesel generators said to be activating at critical facilities...TASS RUSSIA...
Meanwhile Belarus reports that its air defenses shot down a Ukrainian air defense missile when it entered the airspace of Belarus...TASS RUSSIA
In other news...
99 individuals gaining entry into the Order of Canada.
Gov. General Mary Simon announcing inductees that include hockey star Sidney Crosby, comedian Eugene Levy and Team Canada soccer star and broadcaster Karina LeBlanc...CBC NEWS
THE LEGENDARY BRAZILIAN SOCCER STAR PELE HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 82...BBC NEWS
THE AIR RAID ALERT TONIGHT IN KIEV AND OTHER PARTS OF UKRAINE....TASS RUSSIA
THE US STATE DEPARTMENT GIVING THE NOD FOR A POSSIBLE SALE OF ANTI-TANK WEAPONS TO TAIWAN...REUTERS
A Brazilian Supreme Court judge ordering a four-day gun ban in the capital city of Brasilia.
That's ahead of this Sunday's inauguration of Leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as President replacing the current Rightist President Jair Bolsonaro...CNN
The US government will require COVID testing for arrivals from China.
That follows China's decision to loosen its COVID restrictions.
The US is claiming a lack of transparency about COVID in China...BBC NEWS
IN MOSCOW TODAY JOINT TALKS BETWEEN DEFENSE MINISTERS FROM RUSSIA, TURKEY (TURKIYE) AND SYRIA.
MATTERS RELATED TO SYRIA DISCUSSED INCLUDING REFUGEES AND EXTREMIST GROUPS OPERATING IN THE COUNTRY.
TURKIYE (TURKEY) HAS BEEN CALLING FOR A TRILATERAL SUMMIT OF THE THREE NATIONS.
TURKISH MILITARY FORCES ARE CURRENTLY LAUNCHING ARTILLERY AND AIR STRIKES IN NORTHERN SYRIA AIMED AT KURDISH GROUPS CONSIDERED TERRORISTS.
TURKEY IS WARNING OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A GROUND OPERATION ON THE REGION TO CREATE A 30-KILOMETER-WIDE SECURITY ZONE ACROSS NORTHERN SYRIA...TASS RUSSIA
THE MARKETS DOWN TODAY
(UPDATED)
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DOWN 365.85 POINTS OR 1.10 PERCENT IN VALUE.
THE NASDAQ FELL 139.94 POINTS OR 1.35 PERCENT IN VALUE.
THE PRICE OF OIL IN NEW YORK AT 505 PM 78 DOLLARS AND 77 CENTS A BARREL...MARKETWATCH
THE KOSOVO SITUATION
(UPDATED)
In Kosovo authorities released a Serbian policeman whose arrest led to protests and barricades.
His family says he will be under house arrest...(RTS Serbia)
At a long meeting in a Serb military barracks last night Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic urged Serb protest leaders in Kosovo to remove barricades.
Vucic saying he had received assurances from the US and the EU...(RTS Serbia)...
And Vucic says tonight that the process of removing the barricades starts on Friday and will take 24 to 48 hours...(RTS Serbia)
North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un laying out "self-defense goals" for 2023 at major ruling party meeting.
Kim talking about the "new challengeable situation" on the Korean peninsula and international political situation in his remarks...YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA...
Meanwhile the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol expressing his displeasure with his Defense Minister.
This follows the penetration of South Korean airspace by five North Korean drones on Monday with the South unable to shoot any of them down...YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA
FEAR OF A CAMPAIGN BY 'RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS' FOLLOWING THE CHRISTMAS DAY ATTACK ON SOME ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON.
AT LEAST THAT'S THE PICTURE PAINTED IN SOME MAINSTREAM MEDIA REPORTING...AFP FRANCE-AL ARABIYA
Here in Pennsylvania the gasoline tax automatically goes up in 2023 that's because of a law signed in 2013 (Act 89) by then Republican Governor Tom Corbett.
Gasoline going up 3.5 cents a gallon and diesel fuel 4.4 cents a gallon January 1st.
The automatic gas tax increase triggered by the Act 89 provision that gas taxes rise when the wholesale price of gasoline is above 2 dollars and 99 cents a gallon for 12 months...YORK DAILY RECORD
THE LATEST INFLATION BAILOUT ANNOUNCED IN SPAIN.
10 BILLION EUROS (10 BILLION, 637 BILLION US DOLLARS) ALLOCATED TO DEAL WITH THE HIGHER PRICES BEING BLAMED ON RUSSIA.
SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER DIRECTING 212 DOLLARS AND 74 CENTS TO EACH LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD ALONG WITH CUTS TO THE NATION'S VALUE ADDED TAX ON GOODS AND SERVICES.
THE INFLATION RATE IN SPAIN WAS HIGHER IN RECENT MONTHS DECLINING TO 6.8 PERCENT...BBC NEWS
A retired US Marine colonel who's trained Ukrainian soldiers says he's seen some of them commit atrocities.
Andrew Milburn made those comments last month in a podcast...NEWSWEEK
More on Russia and Ukraine later in the summary...
A judge in Maricopa County, Arizona rejecting the notion of sanctions against Republican candidate for Governor Kari Lake.
Judge Peter Thompson ruled against Lake's lawsuit challenging the election saying she did not offer enough proof to show wrongdoing.
The ruling orders compensation by Lake of Democrat candidate Katie Hobbs 33,040 dollars for court costs.
Hobbs had asked the court to impose the sanctions on Lake...NTD NEWS
The US Supreme Court deciding in a 5-4 decision to allow the Title 42 policy of President Trump to remain in place.
The policy allows for rapid deportation of those who enter the US illegally.
Oral arguments will be heard on the matter in February.
The high court responding to an emergency appeal from 19 Republican state attorney generals.
Chief John John Roberts and four "Conservative" justices in the majority while Justice Neil Gorsuch joined three "Liberal" justices in the minority...
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SIGNING A DECREE BANNING SALE OF RUSSIAN OIL AT CAPPED PRICES EFFECTIVE FEBURARY 1ST...TASS RUSSIA
BALKAN TENSIONS OVER KOSOVO
(UPDATED)
The tensions in the Balkans statements from Serbia today blaming Western nations for pressuring the removal of barricades by Serbs in northern Kosovo...(RTS Serbia)
Meanwhile new barricades established by Serbs in the region with Serbia saying its military is in a high level of alert...CGTN CHINA...
Tonight Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic meeting representatives of Serbs in Kosovo at a military base in Serbia...(RTS Serbia)
Taiwan deciding to extend compulsory military service beginning in 2024. The decision seen as a response to increasing pressure from China.
China has been responding to increasing friendliness and support of Taiwan from the United States and allied nations.
That support includes everything from diplomatic and trade missions to the supply of military weaponry by the United States...ASSOCIATED PRESS-NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO...
JOINT EXERCISES BETWEEN CHINESE AND RUSSIAN WARSHIPS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA NORTH OF TAIWAN CONCLUDING TODAY.
REAR ADMIRAL WANG YU OF THE CHINESE MILITARY SAYING THE SIX DAYS OF DRILLS DEMONSTRATED THE SUCCESSFUL INTERACTION OF THE CHINESE AND RUSSIAN NAVIES...TASS RUSSIA...
AND THERE'S WORD THAT JAPAN IS CONSIDERING DEPLOYING A MISSILE UNIT AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE DEFENSE UNIT ON A REMOTE SOUTHERN ISLAND JUST 62 MILES (100 KILOMETERS) FROM TAIWAN...TASS RUSSIA
MARKETS MIXED.
TODAY THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ROSE 37.63 POINTS.
THE NASDAQ FELL 144.64 POINTS OR 1.38 PERCENT IN VALUE.
THE PRICE OF OIL AT 79 DOLLARS AND 86 CENTS A BARREL BY 530 PM EASTERN US TIME...MARKETWATCH
Bills clearing Israel's parliament today that will enable cabinet posts for religious and nationalist lawmakers...TIMES OF ISRAEL
The government led by Benjamin Netanyahu set to be sworn in Thursday.
Zionist Nationalist politician Bezalel Smotrich says that Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi is trying to politicize the military.
Kohavi attacked one of the bills enabling the new government...TIMES OF ISRAEL
IN JAPAN A CABINET MINISTER FIRED TODAY AS PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA DEALS WITH A LOW POPULARITY RATING.
A 33.1 PERCENT APPROVAL RATING RECORDED BY KYODO NEWS IN JAPAN...BERNAMA NEWS MALAYSIA
"the enemy is well aware of our proposals on the demilitarization of the regime's controlled territories"
"There is a little left to do-to accept these proposals in an amicable way. Otherwise the Russian Army will deal with the issue"
That is the message from Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for Ukraine's government.
Lavrov adding that Kiev and Washington can put an end to the conflict in Ukraine at any time...TASS RUSSIA
North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un seen at an event to commemorate the Communist nation's constitution...JOONG ANG DAILY SOUTH KOREA
POLITICS IN ARIZONA WHERE THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS CURRENTLY SECRETARY OF STATE AND MARICOPA COUNTY WANT SANCTIONS ON REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR KARI LAKE.
A denial tonight from a spokesman for former Vice-President Mike Pence.
It follows a filing with the Federal Election Commission about a 2024 Presidential Candidacy.
A suggestion has been made that the filing may be a prank...NEWSWEEK
THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
A former US Representative for the Balkans, Richard Grenell, urging US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call on Kosovo's leader to back down and release Serbs arrested recently.
Grenell also calling for Blinken to tell Albin Kurti to stop arresting peaceful protesters and to stop sending special forces into the northern part of Kosovo...RICHARD GRENELL TWITTER
He also would like to see Serbian barricades to be removed and for safe passage into Kosovo for a Serbian Orthodox Archbishop during the Christmas season...(Tanjug News Agency Serbia)
The European Union is calling for freedom of movement in Kosovo including for religious leaders.
Serbia has increased the readiness of its armed forces and says it will seek peace first but if KFOR the NATO force is unwilling to protect Serbs in northern Kosovo it will intervene...(RTS Serbia)
The release of a new batch of the Twitter files.
These files about suppression of opinion regarding COVID.
Both the Trump Administration and Biden Administration lobbied Twitter and other tech companies regarding COVID information.
But while the Trump Administration concerns were about information attacking 5G towers and runs on grocery stores the Biden Administration took aim at any opposition to COVID vaccines...
TURKIYE (TURKEY) SUMMONING THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO PROTEST 'ANTI-TURKISH PROPAGANDA' FOLLOWING AN ATTACK ON A KURDISH CENTER IN PARIS LAST FRIDAY.
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT IT OBJECTS TO ALLEGATIONS THAT TURKIYE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK AND TO THE DISPLAY OF KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY FLAGS AT PROTESTS THAT FOLLOWED THE ATTACK...AL JAZEERA QATAR
HUNDREDS OF KURDS RALLIED IN PARIS TODAY TO REMEMBER THE THREE THAT WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK...(BFM-TV France)
"Normal relations with the West can be forgotten for years, or even decades"
That's some of the message from former Russian Prime Minister and President Dmitry Medvedev.
Medvedev now holds the title of Deputy Chairman of Russia's National Security Council and is a key Russian political leader.
Mr. Medvedev says that while normal relations are impossible with the West, Russia can have normal relations with the rest of the world...TASS RUSSIA
VANDALISM CHRISTMAS DAY AT THREE POWER SUBSTATIONS NEAR TACOMA, WASHINGTON KNOCKED OUT POWER TO 14,000 CUSTOMERS.
The message from Ukraine is of the notion of a peace summit in late February but it's dependent on Russia admitting "war crimes" before a tribunal...ASSOCIATED PRESS-NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to the new president of the G20 group of nations Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India saying their conversation focused on opportunities for cooperation with Zelensky speaking of a "peace formula" he wants Modi to support...AL JAZEERA QATAR
An official with the Lugansk People's Republic says that Ukraine is using vehicles with the markings of humanitarian organizations to move military supplies to a city in the Donetsk region...TASS RUSSIA
In other news...
Israel's President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister-Designate Benjamin Netanyahu among the mourners for Rabbi Chaim Druckman.
The influential leader of Religious Zionism died yesterday at the age of 90...
(SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING TILL 11 PM EASTERN US TIME)
LATE NEWS TONIGHT:
12 people are now reported dead in the Buffalo, New York area (Erie County) because of a blizzard. Conditions are easing in the area but additional snowfall is expected in the next 24 hours...WKBW-TV BUFFALO
Six people dead and two hurt when a bus went off a bridge and into an overflowing river in northwestern Spain....REUTERS-ASIA ONE
43 Chinese warplanes flying across the median line in the Taiwan Strait coming close to Taiwan.
This happened in a 24-hour period.
In all Taiwan tracked 71 warplanes and seven ships from China in its vicinity during that period.
In Kosovo tonight the NATO military force KFOR denies any fighting between it and Serbs in Kosovo.
The Kosovo police also deny any incident between it and Serbs in northern Kosovo.
A burst of gunfire reported in Zubin Potok this evening near a KFOR patrol.
Meanwhile a media report that the "Quint Countries" (France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US) want Serbian barricades in northern Kosovo removed within 24 hours...(Information from RTS Serbia used in this story)
More on Russia and Ukraine later in the summary...
TONIGHT IN ISRAEL MOURNING.
RABBI CHAIM DRUCKMAN DEAD AT THE AGE OF 90.
RABBI DRUCKMAN A SPIRITUAL LEADER OF RELIGIOUS ZIONISM IN ISRAEL.
IN THE 1970'S DRUCKMAN A FOUNDER OF THE 'GUSH EMUNIM' (BELIEVERS BLOC) MOVEMENT.
THE MOVEMENT PROMOTED JEWISH SETTELMENT IN TERRITORIES WON FOLLOWING THE SIX-DAY WAR OF 1967...TIMES OF ISRAEL
Politics in Israel Prime Minister-Designate Benjamin Netanyahu attacking a Religious Zionism Party member of Parliament in his coalition.
Mr. Netanyahu saying there will be no discrimination against LGBTQ people from his government.
Member of Parliament Orit Strock had made comments saying that doctors should be able to deny their services on religious grounds...ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS
The situation in Afghanistan with Mainstream Media reporting a ban on female staff at international humanitarian organizations in the country.
The NGO's (Non Governmental Organizations) demanding that female staff be allowed to resume work.
The Taliban saying that the organizations are not in compliance because female staff did not wear hijabs...
THE DEATH RATE IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE 23 PERCENT FROM 2019 TO 2021.
LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE US DECLINED TO 76.4 YEARS FROM 78.8 YEARS DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
FIGURES RELEASED BY THE US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION...VOICE OF AMERICA
(Updated) Kurds in Paris protesting following the deadly attack Friday at a Kurdish cultural center. Hundreds taking to the streets with police making 11 arrests on the sidelines of the demonstration.
Three killed and three wounded in the attack.
The suspect, described as a "racist", placed into psychiatric care Saturday. But late word is that he is back in a jail cell Sunday evening.
The political leader of the "Left" Party (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon calling for the attack to be treated as a terrorist attack.
Many in the Kurdish community suspicious of Turkish government involvement in the attack...(Information from BFM-TV used in connection with this story)
TURKIYE (TURKEY) SAYS IT IS IN TALKS WITH RUSSIA ON THE USE OF NORTHERN SYRIAN AIRSPACE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST KURDISH FORCES IN SYRIA...ASHARQ AL-ASWAT
THE TOP RUSSIAN OFFICIAL IN THE KHERSON REGION SAYS THE DEADLY ATTACK ON SATURDAY IN THE CITY OF KHERSON WAS A FALSE FLAG BY UKRAINIAN FORCES.
VLADIMIR SALDO SAYS UKRAINE STAGED THE ATTACK TO BLAME IT ON RUSSIAN FORCES...TASS RUSSIA
ISRAELI MEDIA PUTTING OUT A STORY FROM 'WESTERN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS' CLAIMING THAT RUSSIA WILL BE PROVIDING IRAN WITH COMBAT AIRCRAFT...TIMES OF ISRAEL
