European Nation Becomes First Country to Overturn Election Over Foreign Interference

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In a globally unprecedented move, Romania’s Constitutional Court overturned the presidential election results after Romania’s intelligence agency alleged foreign interference through social media.

The episode makes Romania the first country to overturn election results due to allegations of foreign meddling through social media, a key flashpoint since allegations began prominently emerging globally after the 2016 U.S. election. In Romania’s case, the court overturned the results after a declassified report from its intelligence agency alleged foreign interference via TikTok.

The report came as Romania’s political establishment tried to figure out how Călin Georgescu, 62, running without a party, came in first in the first round of elections with 22.9% of the vote. His rise blindsided the entire Romanian political scene, especially as he hadn’t participated in any debates, didn’t register significantly in opinion polls, and didn’t belong to a party, something almost unheard of in Romanian politics.

Instead, Georgescu ran an almost exclusively online campaign, centering on TikTok edits of himself. The edits were usually clips of his speeches interwoven with him riding on horseback, swimming in icy mountain waters, or fighting in judo sessions, among other activities. His account quickly went viral, garnering 3.8 million likes and 298,000 followers, while his videos routinely receive millions of views, Politico reported.

Romania has the largest share of per capita TikTok users in Europe, with roughly half of its 19 million population being users of the app, according to data from the World Population Review. (Read more from “European Nation Becomes First Country to Overturn Election Over Foreign Interference” HERE)

French Government Collapses as Le Pen Joins Leftist Bloc to Oust Globalist PM Over ‘Technocratic’ Budget

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The government of France has fallen for the second time this year, as a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier was passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, giving the former Eurocrat the ignominious distinction of being the shortest tenured prime minister in modern French history.

Just 91 days after being installed in the Hôtel Matignon by President Macron, Michel Barnier saw his government collapse on Wednesday, as Marine Le Pen’s populist National Rally (RN) party joined onto a censure motion to dethrone the government launched by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) bloc, Le Figaro reports.

While Le Pen and her faction gave Barnier’s government benefit of the doubt support following July’s snap legislative elections, in which the National Assembly was left in a three-way split between the leftist NFP, the National Rally, and neo-liberal Macronists, Prime Minister Barnier’s move on Monday to invoke a constitutional loophole in an attempt to push through effective cuts to social security payments to seniors without a vote in the parliament, saw Le Pen revoke her support from the government and announce her support for the NFP’s no confidence vote.

The motion passed the National Assembly on Wednesday as 331 MPs voted in favour of collapsing the government, far surpassing the 289 needed to pass. It marks the first time since 1962 that a government in Paris was ousted by parliamentary vote. Having only served 91 days in the post, former Eurocrat and top Brexit villain Barnier now owns the title for the least time spent as prime minister, behind Pierre Bérégovoy at 362 days, Maurice Couve de Murville at 345 days, Edith Cresson at 322 days, former Macron PM Gabriel Attal whose reign ended at 240 days earlier this year, and Bernard Cazeneuve at 161 days. (Read more from “French Government Collapses as Le Pen Joins Leftist Bloc to Oust Globalist PM Over ‘Technocratic’ Budget” HERE)

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China Escalates Trade War With US By Slapping Ban On Minerals Used In Ammunition, Semiconductors

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China announced Tuesday that it is banning exports to the U.S. of some metals and rare minerals which can be used in the production of semiconductors and ammunition, according to the Financial Times.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it is banning exports of “dual-use” items related to germanium, gallium, antimony and superhard materials to the US in retaliation against the US government’s latest trade restrictions, according to the Financial Times. The ministry also announced that it is placing more rigid controls on exports of graphite-related items, the Financial Times reported.

The key minerals and metals are used in the production of a variety of items, including batteries, military hardware and semiconductors, according to the Financial Times. Beijing has largely dominated the global supply of various crucial resources, the Financial Times reported. Researchers estimated there could be a $3.4 billion decrease in US gross domestic product if China implements a total ban on exports of germanium and gallium, minerals used in some semiconductors and other high-tech manufacturing, according to a November report from the U.S. Geological Survey.

China’s decision comes after the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced on Monday new restrictions designed to curb the People’s Republic of China’s capacity to produce advanced semiconductors that can be used in advanced weapon systems, artificial intelligence and advanced computing, according to a Monday press release. The BIS also added 140 unnamed Chinese companies to a restricted trade list. (Read more from “China Escalates Trade War With US By Slapping Ban On Minerals Used In Ammunition, Semiconductors” HERE)

Putin Issues Chilling Warning to Trump Over His Safety

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Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump on Thursday as an experienced and intelligent politician – and said he does not believe the U.S. president-elect is safe after two assassination attempts.

The Russian president signaled he was open to talks with the incoming commander-in-chief as he threatened to use ‘all means of destruction’ available if the West gives nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

The Kremlin strongman also tore into how Trump and his family had been treated by his critics and called attacks on him ‘revolting’. . .

Putin cited ‘the absolutely uncivilized methods used to battle against Trump, up to and including an assassination attempt – and more than once’.

‘By the way, in my opinion, he is not safe now,’ said Putin.

He called such behavior ‘revolting’ and said in Russia not even ‘bandits’ would resort to such methods. (Read more from “Putin Issues Chilling Warning to Trump Over His Safety” HERE)

Report: U.S. and European Officials Discussed Giving Ukraine Nuclear Weapons

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By Anti War. According to the New York Times, US and European officials have discussed a range of options they believe will deter Russia from taking more Ukrainian territory, including providing Kiev with nuclear weapons. The outlet reports that Western officials believe the Kremlin will not significantly escalate the war before Donald Trump is sworn in as President in January.

Following the election of Trump earlier this month, the US and its NATO allies began taking steps to rush weapons to Ukraine and give Kiev the ability to strike targets inside Russian territory with long-range weapons.

American officials who were briefed on the intelligence community’s assessments told the Times that weapons will not alter the challenging situation that Kiev is currently facing. “US spy agencies have assessed that speeding up the provisions of weapons, ammunition and matériel for Ukraine will do little to change the course of the war in the short term,” the Times reports.

Desperate to bolster Ukraine’s standing in the war before the transition of power on January 20, the Biden administration is looking at a range of serious escalations. “US and European officials are discussing deterrence as a possible security guarantee for Ukraine, such as stockpiling a conventional arsenal sufficient to strike a punishing blow if Russia violates a cease-fire.” The article continues, “Several officials even suggested that Mr. Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that were taken from it after the fall of the Soviet Union.” (Read more from “Report: U.S. and European Officials Discussed Giving Ukraine Nuclear Weapons” HERE)

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NATO Considers Preemptive Strikes Amid Rising Tensions With Russia

By MSN News. NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer stated during a conference in Brussels that NATO leadership is contemplating the possibility of conducting precise preemptive strikes on Russian territory in the event of an armed conflict between Moscow and the Alliance.

He added that the North Atlantic Alliance must replenish its weapons stockpiles, modernise air defence systems, and precision strike systems.

Earlier, Bauer stated that the management of major Western companies should be prepared for wartime conditions and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly to become less vulnerable to blackmail from Russia and China.

At present, the Russians do not pose the same threat as they did in February 2022, so we have some time to prepare, said Rob Bauer in Brussels, referring to the state of military equipment and the level of soldier training. He added that for the West, this means the necessity of increasing investments in the arms industry.

In his opinion, deterring the opponent involves not only military capabilities, but also the use of all available tools in wartime conditions. (Read more from “NATO Considers Preemptive Strikes Amid Rising Tensions With Russia” HERE)

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Britain’s Risky Move In Ukraine That May Make Nuclear War With Russia Scarily More Likely

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Deploying British troops to Ukraine could be like a “declaration of war against Russia” and cause a “nuclear exchange”, an expert has told the Daily Express.

French newspaper Le Monde claimed that talks between the UK and France over sending soldiers to Ukraine have been reignited and that the move is not being ruled out.

A British military source said: “Discussions are under way between the UK and France regarding defence cooperation, particularly with the aim of creating a core of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and broader European security.”

Security and defence expert Nicholas Drummond told the Daily Express such a plan would be disastrous and could lead to an all-out war.

He added that the British Army is not even ready for conflict with Russia and warned that Vladimir Putin’s “dangerous” mindset could result in “disastrous” consequences. (Read more from “Britain’s Risky Move In Ukraine That May Make Nuclear War With Russia Scarily More Likely” HERE)

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Get Ready for a ‘Wartime Scenario’ in Europe and Be Wary of Russia and China, Top NATO Officer Warns

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Europeans must be ready to sacrifice some “luxuries” to pay to support Ukraine and to prevent a “wartime scenario” coming to the nations of the continent if they are insufficiently prepared, NATO’s most senior military officer said in a speech namechecking both Russia and China as threats.

NATO’s Admiral Rob Bauer, the Dutch naval officer who is chair of the NATO Military Committee addressed a conference of the European Policy Centre think tank on Monday, and while asserting the alliance is more ready now “than it has ever been”, delivered a somewhat pessimistic message of the need for preparedness for conflict. In a speech aimed at businesses across the alliance, the Admiral outlined that businesses had to be ready for war, but by improving their readiness they also reduced the likelihood of future fighting by improving NATO’s level of deterrence.

The scale of spending needed to keep the peace in Europe is such that ordinary people would feel the pinch in the pocketbook, Admiral Bauer said, calling on politicians to provide strong leadership to make the case this is necessary to voters. He said: “if you ramp up your deterrence and if you ramp up support to Ukraine, there will be less money to spend on other things. It will take away some of our luxuries, it will require sacrifice.”

Also implied is the extra cost on businesses, making a shift away from efficient, cost-cutting but fragile ‘just in time’ models to more robust practices to make businesses in America and Europe more insulated to shock. This itself increases the deterrence of NATO to its adversaries, he said, because knowing Western economies can’t be knocked over by the hybrid warfare of a sudden supply shock denies that weapon to those who would weaponise trade. (Read more from “Get Ready for a ‘Wartime Scenario’ in Europe and Be Wary of Russia and China, Top NATO Officer Warns” HERE)

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Russia Threatens to Attack New U.S. Base in Poland With ‘Advanced Weapons’

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Russia has threatened to attack a new US defense base in Poland with “advanced weapons” — just hours after reportedly launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday.

Moscow leveled the warning after saying the opening of the ballistic missile defense base, located in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, would lead to an increase in overall nuclear danger.

“Given the nature and level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defense base in Poland has long been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

The US base at Redzikowo, which opened Nov. 13, is part of a broader NATO missile shield — known as “Aegis Ashore” — that can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, according to the alliance.

“This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere,” Zakharova said of the base’s opening. (Read more from “Russia Threatens to Attack New U.S. Base in Poland With ‘Advanced Weapons’” HERE)

Danish Navy Reportedly Boards Chinese Ship Suspected in European Undersea Cable Sabotage — Sweden’s Defense Ministry Put Freighter at the Time and Place of the Disruption

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The Danish Navy has boarded and detained the Chinese Bulk Carrier Yi Peng 3 in the Danish Straits, near the exit of the Great Belt, according to reports in Eurasia Daily and Defence24. The detention reportedly took place on the evening of November 18. Officials have not verified those reports, however. According to Financial Times sources, Swedish authorities are “carefully studying the Chinese vessel.”

Denmark has sent two ships, the HDMS Hvidbjoernen, an ocean patrol frigate, and the DNK Navy Patrol P525, a smaller patrol craft, to shadow the Chinese Bulk Carrier Yi Peng 3. Authorities suspect the Chinese vessel is connected with the cutting of two undersea internet cables that connect Finland and Sweden to Central Europe, reports MSN.

The undersea cable connecting Sweden to Lithuania was the first to be hit, sustaining damage around Sunday, Nov. 17; the Finland-Germany undersea cable was cut the following day. On Tuesday, the Sweden Ministry of Civil Defense announced that it had recorded the Yi Peng 3’s movements and placed it within the vicinity of possible sabotage events.

According to public records, the bulk carrier left Ust-Luga Anchorage, some 50 miles east of St. Petersburg in Russia, on Nov. 15, and its next destination was Port Said in Egypt. We don’t have any information on her crew or what type of cargo she’s carrying, though.

At the time of writing, Marinetraffic.com puts the Chinese ship in the middle of the Kattegatt, the sea bound by Denmark on the west and Sweden in the east. The smaller Danish patrol ship is immediately beside it, while the Hvidbjoernen is located some 15 to 20 miles southwest of the two vessels (although the website says that this position was last updated more than seven hours ago). (Read more from “Danish Navy Reportedly Boards Chinese Ship Suspected in European Undersea Cable Sabotage — Sweden’s Defense Ministry Put Freighter at the Time and Place of the Disruption” HERE)

Big Change to Russian Nuclear Doctrine Now Allows Putin to Use Nukes in Ukraine

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Just days after the United States allowed Ukraine to use its long-range missile for deep strikes within Russian territory; President Vladimir Putin has approved changes to his country’s nuclear doctrine.

The changes to the nuclear doctrine have been approved by Putin on Tuesday.

The most noticeable change is that it expands the conditions under which nuclear weapons can be used by Moscow.

To put things into perspective, Russia can now use nuclear weapons in instances when a non-nuclear state supported by nuclear power attacks its area.

The timing suggests that it is the U.S. President Joe Biden’s approval to Kyiv for using the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for deep strikes within Russian territory that has brought about this shift in the Russian nuclear doctrine. (Read more from “Big Change to Russian Nuclear Doctrine Now Allows Putin to Use Nukes in Ukraine” HERE)

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