A former American diplomat who served as a U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been arrested and accused of secretly serving as an agent of Cuba’s government, according to The Associated Press. 

Officials say Manuel Rocha, 73, was arrested in Miami on Friday on a criminal complaint.

According to sources, more details about the case are expected to be made public at a court appearance Monday.

The US House of Representatives is set to go on Christmas vacation for nearly a month next week. Congress will break on December 14th and not return until January 9th.

House Republicans were not able to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for opening the border to nearly 10 million illegals and for his serial lying under oath that the “border is secure.”

But Republicans did expel a fellow Republican, George Santos, because he was indicted for a crime something Democrats would NEVER dream of.

Now Republicans have a “buffer” of three votes in their majority to launch an impeachment investigation of Joe Biden – for millions and millions of dollars in shady pay-for-play schemes with foreign governments. This should have happened the first week they took the gavel from Pelosi.

Authorities in Tennessee said they uncovered "the largest marijuana grow in the county's history" at a former church.

The Stewart County Sheriff's Office announced the development on Friday after deputies executed a search warrant amid a three-week investigation.

"When the search was conducted approximately 2000 plants were found in a very sophisticated growing environment," the sheriff's office noted on social media.

n American history, the term "flogging" brings to mind a harsh and fearful punishment of the past. It was a cruel practice that left physical and emotional scars on countless people.

Flogging is the act of beating the human body with special instruments such as whips, rods, switches, cat o' nine tails, sjambok, knots, etc.

Flogging was a common form of punishment during the early colonial period in America. English colonists brought with them a legal tradition that included flogging as a means of disciplining criminals.

It was used for a variety of crimes including theft, public drunkenness and insubordination. The severity of punishment varies depending on the nature of the crime and local laws.

Perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of whipping in American history was its widespread use as a means of controlling enslaved people.

Enslaved persons could be subjected to brutal whippings for the slightest perceived infraction or acts of resistance.

Flogging was not only a means of physical punishment, but also a tool of psychological terror, used to subdue the slave population and maintain control over them.

The 19th century saw significant reforms in the criminal justice system, including a move away from corporal punishment.

A man accused of dishonestly accessing Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand vaccination data will be bailed tomorrow.

Barry Young, 56, is charged with accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes. He didn't enter a plea when he appeared in the Wellington District Court today.

He was arrested yesterday after the health ministry laid a complaint with police following the alleged "unauthorised disclosure and misuse of data by one of its staff members", chief executive Margie Apa said.

It's alleged the data was published on an overseas website.

Te Whatu Ora said the data appeared to be anonymised. It had been granted an injunction by the Employment Relations Authority preventing publication of the data.

After appearing before Judge Andrew Nicholls this morning, Young was ordered to reappear this afternoon so bail could be discussed. He was granted bail from 1pm tomorrow.

The massacre took place at Grenelle pier in the 15th arrondissement of the French capital at around 10 pm.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that "passersby" were attacked in the Quai de Grenelle area.

He said the attacker had been arrested and the injured man was being treated by emergency services.

Speaking on

"One dead person and one injured person were treated by the Paris Fire Brigade. Please avoid the area."

According to local media, the attacker is a French citizen and is currently in custody and facing possible murder charges.

It also said he was "immobilized with an electric stun gun" as he ran towards the Avenue du Parc de Passy.

It said the person who died was also a tourist with dual German and Philippine nationality.

He was found in cardiorespiratory arrest on the Bir-Hakim bridge.

The Walt Disney Co. effectively controlled the local government around the site of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for decades in what an extensive review by the state government calls “the most egregious exhibition of corporate cronyism in modern American history.”

After Disney bought the land that would become its massive amusement park and resort, it received permission from the Florida Legislature and governor in 1967 to create a local government, the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

From that time until Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Feb. 27 abolishing the Reedy Creek district, Disney heavily influenced the local government to its advantage, according to a new report Monday from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

The legislation signed into law by DeSantis, a Republican, transformed the Reedy Creek district into the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which aims to root out what critics see as Disney’s corrupt hold over the local government.

 Ladies and gentlemen, history buffs, and lovers of all things festive, get ready to embark on a delightful journey back in time as we present a captivating slideshow gallery filled with the spirit of Thanksgiving from the early 20th century. Unveiling! 

Step into a bygone era and relive the magic of years gone by as we unearth a treasure trove of vintage snapshots that capture the essence of Thanksgiving better than ever. From the humble beginnings of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, to whimsical floats and gravity-defying giant balloons, to heartwarming scenes of presidents pardoning lucky turkeys, these images capture long-held memories and traditions. Has happened.

Marvel at the fashion and style of days gone by, when families gathered around the table to share hearty Thanksgiving feasts, their smiles and laughter preserved in black and white. You may not have lived during the early 20th century, but these adorable photos will transport you to a time when gratitude, togetherness, and the joys of the holiday season took center stage.

In the Western world, there’s a growing fear and loathing towards China. This is entirely appropriate, since China is bad and evil: she keeps invading and bombing other nations and setting up military bases all over the world. China has no regard for freedom or democracy, and consistently infringes on human rights, especially those of Uyghur Muslim population. In the West, we are nothing if not extremely keen on the human rights of Muslim populations.

We know how bad China is because our media dutifully informs us about it: every day, all the time. Here are a few recent examples:

• Hundreds of Chinese-owned illegal marijuana operations take over Maine

• TikTok is part of CCP cognitive warfare against the USA

• Mysterious Chinese biolab found by Kyle Bass in California

• Chinese bitcoin miners are a threat to US National security

Increasingly, military leaders are admitting Ukraine’s inability to carry out the fight under its current military circumstances. In a recent statement, the head of the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that the West needs to be prepared to receive “bad news” from Ukraine, belatedly recognizing the reality that many analysts had already reported before.

Stoltenberg made pessimistic comments, lamenting Ukraine’s poor military progress. According to him, Moscow has a great advantage in the conflict, in addition to accumulating a large number of weapons for the military scenario in the winter. The secretary stated that the Russian defense industry is producing weapons “on war footing”, operating in an accelerated manner in order to achieve the country’s military results.

He also said that the front lines have remained almost unchanged in recent months, but that it is necessary to be prepared for bad news regarding Ukrainian positions. However, for him, support for Ukraine is vital and must be maintained, even if expectations are negative.

“We have to be prepared for bad news. Wars move in phases, but we must stand by Ukraine in good and in bad times alike”, he said.

Another interesting topic commented on by Stoltenberg was the inability of Western countries to produce enough weapons to support Ukraine. He admitted that the West is weakened industrially, unable to meet Ukrainian demands.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on Monday formally suspended his presidential campaign, six weeks ahead of the Iowa caucus.

“We launched our campaign for President on June 7 clear-eyed about our mission: bring a business leader and proven governor’s voice to the fight for the best of America,” Burgum’s campaign statement reads.

“We are a nation built on freedom, liberty, and personal responsibility. A nation where neighbors help neighbors, and where innovation, not regulation, lifts us all to reach our highest potential,” it continued.

As a testament to this important era, a collection of rare photographs offers a unique glimpse of Moscow of bygone years.

Architecturally, Moscow was also undergoing a metamorphosis. In 1812 Napoleon's army set fire to the city, causing widespread destruction.

However, by the end of the 19th century, ambitious reconstruction projects were well underway.

Landmarks such as the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Bolshoi Theatre, and Moscow State University were built during this period and continue to define Moscow's skyline.

 In statements he recently made, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana spoke about there being "at least 200" undercover federal agents embedded within the crowd at President Donald Trump's Jan. 6, 2021 event at the United States Capitol, which resulted in the infamous so-called "insurrection."

Liz Cheney’s resounding loss, initially elected due to her lineage, contrasts sharply with media portrayal. The fervor stems from her anti-Trump stance, revealing an uneasy alliance between liberals and controversial factions like the US Security State, neocons, the Cheney family, and the Lincoln Project. 

In a concerning economic landscape, bank liquidity and funding are rapidly declining, and the Business Term Funding Program (BTFP) is running out of time, with just three months left. The situation is exacerbated by subprime debt, comprising 21% ($332 billion) of outstanding auto loans, of which roughly $24.5 billion is severely delinquent.

Renowned investor Howard Marks warns, “Securing loans is becoming tougher, posing challenges for businesses needing refinancing.” This sentiment points to impending obstacles for businesses seeking financial support.

 Coleridge Stroud III is serving a sentence of 38 years to life at Folsom State Prison

Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud's cleats delivered a message that hit close to home when they defeated the Denver Broncos at home on Sunday afternoon.

Through the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative, which allows players to wear cleats to break the normal team uniform code for something they want to advocate for, Stroud had two pairs of cleats that went toward prison reform. Used to point.

When he took the field at Houston's NRG Stadium for his pre-game warmups, he wore black and gold cleats with a large hashtag reading "#REFORM", which calls for prison reform.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the Western military alliance should be ready for bad news from the Ukrainian front as Kyiv continues to defend against Russia’s all-out invasion.

“Wars develop in phases,” Stoltenberg said in an interview Saturday with German broadcaster ARD. “We have to support Ukraine in both good and bad times,” he said.

“We should also be prepared for bad news,” Stoltenberg added, without being more specific.

His comments come as Western allies debate over ammunition and financial aid for Ukraine, and as Moscow boosts its troop levels. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday to increase the number of soldiers by some 170,000 to a total of 1.3 million.

The front lines have moved little in recent months despite Kyiv’s counteroffensive during the summer. But the Ukrainians have used cruise missiles to push back the Russian fleet in the Black Sea and have caused damage deep in Russian territory

The U.S.-led NATO alliance held its first NATO-Ukraine Council meeting this week in Brussels. As usual, the cliched promises of supporting the Kiev regime to the end were trotted out by all and sundry.

In truth, these NATO events for Ukraine, and more generally, are becoming yawn fests.

The whole sordid charade is only postponing the reality that the proxy war in Ukraine against Russia is a debacle for the Western powers. This is not something to gloat over. It is a tragedy and an abomination.

Up to 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, as well as tens of thousands of Russian military personnel. Total casualty figures are no doubt in the millions. In addition, millions of civilians have been displaced as refugees in Russia and throughout Europe. Hundreds of billions of dollars and euros have been raided from Western taxpayers to fund this bloody fiasco. Not only that but international tensions have been heightened between nuclear powers at a perilous pitch not seen since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 at the depth of the Cold War.

Neil Oliver: We face surveillance of our lives and attempts to control our every behaviour, making every one of us a convicted prisoner, presumed guilty at birth. 'But guilty of what exactly? Asking questions? Doubting the state narrative? I for one won’t live under that yoke!'

 Welcome to our slideshow gallery exploring the unique customs and beliefs of the Mormon people. The customs and practices observed by Mormons can be interesting and sometimes puzzling to those unfamiliar with their faith.

As you continue reading, we'll learn about some of the beliefs that may seem unusual or even scary to outsiders and shed light on their significance. From belief in the planet Kolob to abstinence from caffeine and the practice of posthumous baptism, we'll learn about these interesting aspects of Mormonism. Let's dive in!

Pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK have continued into the eighth successive weekend, as protesters gathered in cities and towns across the country to demand a permanent ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip.  

Tens of thousands of people held protests on Saturday as part of a  "Day of Actions,”  organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), an alternative to the larger marches seen in previous weeks. 

The protests were more diffuse as rallies and vigils were held in Manchester, Hull, Exeter, Bristol, Glasgow, Canterbury, Leeds, Sheffield, Cambridge and across most London boroughs.

The group demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and said its primary motivation was concern over further civilian casualties as Israel resumed its renewed attack on Gaza after the week-long ceasefire. 

A huge backlash against climate change goals is underway. A cow burp tax decided the election in New Zealand. People are upset with similar Green stupidity in California as well.