LiveNewsWatch

Author: Michael Johnes

  • Turning Point USA Hosted its AmericaFest Conference

    Turning Point USA Hosted its AmericaFest Conference

    Prominent conservative leaders in the United States had disagreements at the annual Turning Point USA (TPUSA) conference, revealing a divide within the Republican Party and among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

    The four-day event took place in Phoenix, Arizona, and included Republican leaders, media personalities, and conservative activists. It showcased important differences in opinions within the conservative movement.

    Well-known figures such as Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, and Tucker Carlson criticized each other on stage, discussing topics like U.S. support for Israel, bigotry, free speech, and more.

    So, what is Turning Point USA (TPUSA), and what are the main points from the AmericaFest conference, the first since the group’s founder, Charlie Kirk, was killed in September?

    What Is TPUSA?

    Turning Point USA (TPUSA) is a nonprofit conservative group based in the U.S. It was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, who tragically died in September during an event in Utah. After his death, his wife, Erika Kirk, became the CEO of TPUSA.

    The group has over 850 chapters on college campuses across the country. It aims to mobilize and train young conservatives in high schools, colleges, and universities, promoting free-market ideas and limited government.

    The AmericaFest conference has been held annually since 2021. It includes political speeches, networking opportunities, and cultural programs to inspire young conservative activists.

    What Issues Divided the Conservatives?

    Ben Shapiro, the first speaker after CEO Kirk, criticized several fellow conservatives, especially Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly. He is a strong supporter of Israel and called some conservatives “grifters” and “charlatans” for promoting conspiracy theories and extremist figures in the movement.

    Shapiro condemned Carlson for hosting far-right figure Nick Fuentes on his podcast, calling it “an act of moral imbecility.” Fuentes has been accused of anti-Semitism.

    Carlson responded directly on stage. He mocked Shapiro’s comments and said that trying to exclude certain voices is divisive. He also stated that he “laughed” at the effort to censor differing opinions, which shows a major conflict within conservative media.

    Shapiro also criticized Candace Owens, who has spoken against Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as genocide and asking for Washington to stop its military support for Israel. He said Owens, who was not at the event, “has been vomiting all sorts of hideous and conspiratorial nonsense into the public square for years.”

    He accused former Fox News host Megyn Kelly of “cowardice” for failing to condemn Owens’ unfounded claims about a conspiracy involving the U.S. and Israeli governments regarding the killing of Charlie Kirk.

    Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who was born in the U.S. to Indian immigrants, spoke against bigotry and hate on the right. He said that anyone who normalizes hatred towards any ethnic or religious group “does not belong as a leader” in the conservative movement.

    During his speech, Carlson also condemned bigotry against Muslims. He said, “What you’re watching now… attacking millions of Americans because they’re Muslims? It’s disgusting.” He added, “I’m a Christian. I am not a Muslim. I know there’s a lot of effort to claim I’m a secret jihadi. I’m not.”

    In his closing speech at the convention, U.S. Vice President JD Vance chose not to take sides in the debate over bigotry. He said the conservative movement should welcome everyone who “loves America.” He stated, “I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform. We don’t care if you’re white or Black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between.”

    U.S. Support for Israel

    The topic of Israel came up often during the conference. Steve Bannon accused Shapiro, who is Jewish, and others who strongly support Israel of being part of the “Israel First” group.

    “Israel needs to be independent. If Israel wants to take on Syria, that’s its decision. But the U.S. should not get dragged into another endless war,” he said.

    Some people on the right question whether the Republican Party’s long-standing support for Israel fits with Trump’s “America First” policy.

    Tucker Carlson criticized some Christian ministers who he said justified the killing of innocent people in the context of Israel’s conflict in Gaza.

    “If a man commits a crime, do we kill his kids? I don’t care if it’s in Minneapolis or Gaza City. No, we don’t,” Carlson said. “God is not on any country’s side. He doesn’t have a nationality,” he added.

    Debate Over Who Is an American

    Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for Ohio governor, challenged the idea that a person’s ancestry should decide if they are American.

    “The idea that a ‘heritage American’ is more American than another American is un-American,” he said at the conference.

    “You are an American if you believe in the rule of law, freedom of conscience and expression, a fair merit-based system, the U.S. Constitution, the American dream, and if you are a citizen who pledges loyalty to our nation,” Ramaswamy wrote in an opinion piece for The New York Times on December 17.

    Ramaswamy’s view on being American differs from that of his party colleague, Vice President J.D. Vance. In a July speech, Vance expressed concern about granting citizenship based only on agreement with the Declaration of Independence.

    “America is not just an idea. It is a group of people with a shared history and a common future. In short, it is a nation,” he said.

    During his speech on Sunday at the conference, Vance highlighted the Trump administration’s efforts to end diversity, equity, and inclusion policies aimed at helping historically disadvantaged communities.

    “In the United States, you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore,” he said, adding that the U.S. “always will be a Christian nation.”

  • US Sanctions More Venezuelan President Maduro’s Relatives & Associates

    US Sanctions More Venezuelan President Maduro’s Relatives & Associates

    The United States Department of the Treasury has announced new sanctions against several family members and associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the Trump administration intensifies its pressure on Caracas and continues to bolster US forces along Venezuela’s borders.

    These sanctions, announced on Friday, coincide with ongoing US military actions targeting vessels off Venezuela’s coast, which have resulted in over 100 fatalities. The US military has also seized a Venezuelan oil tanker and imposed a naval blockade on all ships arriving or departing from Venezuelan ports that are under US sanctions.

    US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said that Maduro and his helpers are a threat to our safety in the Americas. He also mentioned that the Trump administration will keep going after the people who help Maduro’s unfair government.

    The latest sanctions focus on seven individuals who are either family members or associates of Malpica Flores, a nephew of Maduro, along with Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero. These individuals were named in a previous round of US sanctions that also targeted six Venezuela-flagged oil tankers and shipping companies on December 11.

    Flores, one of Maduro’s three nephews by marriage, is referred to as one of the “narco-nephews” by the US Treasury Department and is wanted for being “repeatedly linked to corruption” at Venezuela’s state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, SA, according to a Treasury statement.

    It remains unclear how Flores’s involvement with the state-run oil company is connected to efforts to support “Nicolas Maduro’s rogue narco-state,” which Bessent mentioned as a justification for extending sanctions to additional family members and associates of the president.

    Venezuela’s Oil Belongs to the United States

    The United States has stated that its increased military actions in the region since September, including attacks on ships in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean, are mainly focused on fighting drug trafficking. However, international law experts believe these actions could be considered extrajudicial killings.

    Even though the administration keeps talking about drug trafficking, its actions and messages seem more directed at Venezuela’s large oil reserves, which are the biggest in the world. These reserves have mostly remained untouched since the United States imposed sanctions during Trump’s first term.

    Homeland Security adviser and Trump aide Stephen Miller stated last week that Venezuela’s oil belongs to the United States. On X, he claimed, “American sweat, ingenuity, and toil created the oil industry in Venezuela.” He added that its “tyrannical expropriation” was the largest recorded theft of American wealth and property.

    The US has put rules that hurt Venezuela’s oil industry, making the country’s problems worse and people unhappy with President Maduro, who has been in charge since 2013.

    Maduro says these rules are meant to change his government and take Venezuela’s oil.

    The European Union also set similar rules, which will last until 2027. These rules stop Venezuela from getting weapons and some people can’t travel or use their money because of what they did to others.

  • US Announced $11b Arms Package for Taiwan

    US Announced $11b Arms Package for Taiwan

    The Trump administration announced on Wednesday an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, marking the largest U.S. weapons package ever offered to the island amid increasing military pressure from China.

    This arms sale is the second one during President Donald Trump’s current administration and comes as Beijing intensifies its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, which rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty.

    The proposed arms sales include eight items, such as HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones, and parts for additional equipment, according to a statement from Taiwan’s defense ministry.

    “The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities, rapidly building strong deterrent power, and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, all of which are fundamental to maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry added.

    The package must be approved by the U.S. Congress, where Taiwan enjoys widespread bipartisan support.

    The Pentagon announced that the recent arms deal supports U.S. interests in national security, economy, and safety. The sales will help Taiwan modernize its armed forces and keep a strong defense.

    Encouraged by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces to engage in “asymmetric warfare,” utilizing mobile, smaller, and often less expensive weapons that still deliver effective strikes, such as drones.

    “Our country will continue to promote defense reforms, strengthen whole-of-society defense resilience, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and safeguard peace through strength,” stated Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwan’s presidential office, while expressing gratitude to the U.S. for the arms sales.

    $40 Billion 2026 Supplementary Defense

    Last month, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced a $40 billion defense budget for 2026 to 2033. He emphasized that there can be no compromise on national security.

    China’s foreign ministry reacted strongly, as it does with all U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. They said these deals endanger peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and demanded that the U.S. stop these transactions. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the ministry, warned that by supporting Taiwan’s independence with weapons, the U.S. would create problems for itself and that using Taiwan to limit China’s power will ultimately fail.

    Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, stated that weapons like the HIMARS, which have been used by Ukraine against Russia, could help defend against a Chinese invasion. He added that this new package of U.S. security assistance for Taiwan is a response to China’s threats and reflects a call from Mr. Trump for allies to take more responsibility for their own defense.

    Foreign Minister’s US Visit

    Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, traveled to the Washington area last week to meet with U.S. officials. This trip was not announced in advance, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters but wished to remain anonymous.

    It is unclear what was discussed in these meetings, and Taiwan’s foreign ministry has chosen not to comment.

    The U.S. has formal diplomatic ties with China but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and is its main supplier of arms. U.S. law requires that Taiwan be provided with the means to defend itself, which creates tension with China.

    U.S. President Trump’s focus on deal-making and his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next year have raised concerns about potential weakening of U.S. support for Taiwan. However, U.S. officials told Reuters at the beginning of Trump’s second term that they planned to increase weapons sales to Taiwan beyond the levels of his first term. This is part of an effort to deter China.

    The Trump administration’s national security strategy, released earlier this month, stated that the U.S. aims to prevent conflict over Taiwan by keeping military strength in the region. This statement was positively received in Taipei.

    The strategy also noted Taiwan’s importance due to its location, which separates Northeast and Southeast Asia. China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory, a claim that Taiwan rejects.

  • 5 Killed as US Military Destroys Two Vessels in Pacific

    5 Killed as US Military Destroys Two Vessels in Pacific

    United States forces have killed five more individuals aboard vessels in the Pacific Ocean, raising the death toll from the Trump administration’s military campaign against alleged seaborne drug traffickers to at least 104 since September.

    The US military’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on Friday that it carried out “lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels” in the eastern Pacific at the instruction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, resulting in the death of three people in one vessel and two in another.

    Thursday’s attack by US forces followed a strike on another vessel the previous day, which also occurred in international waters in the eastern Pacific and resulted in the death of four individuals, according to SOUTHCOM.

    While the US military categorized the nine victims of the recent attacks as “male narco-terrorists,” Washington has not provided evidence that the nearly 30 vessels destroyed since September in the Pacific and Caribbean were involved in drug trafficking.

    The Secretary of Defense, Hegseth, is getting a lot of criticism. People say he ordered a second attack on survivors who were holding on to pieces of a ship after an earlier attack. Experts say it is wrong to attack people who are already in trouble.

    Latin American leaders and legal experts have condemned the US attacks as “extrajudicial killings,” while Trump has attempted to justify the killings as necessary to combat drug trafficking into the US from Latin American drug cartels, particularly those based in Venezuela.

    Trump has also ordered a significant military deployment to Latin America and threatened to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, accusing him of overseeing a drug trafficking cartel.

    Total Vanal Blocade of All Oil Tankers

    Earlier this week, Trump escalated tensions by ordering a “total” naval blockade of all oil tankers under US sanctions from entering or leaving Venezuelan ports, a move designed to restrict the country’s oil resources and cripple its economy.

    Maduro has condemned Washington’s military mobilization and accused Trump of using the fight against drug trafficking as a pretext for “regime change” in Venezuela and for seizing the country’s oil reserves.

    Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Thursday that he is willing to mediate between the US and Venezuela to “avoid armed conflict.” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum also offered to act as a mediator to find “a peaceful solution so that there is no US intervention.”

    Lula, one of Latin America’s most influential leaders, expressed that Brazil is “very worried” about the escalating crisis between Washington and Caracas. He told reporters that he informed Trump that “things wouldn’t be resolved by shooting; it is better to sit down around a table to find a solution.”

    “I am at the disposal of both Venezuela and the US to contribute to a peaceful resolution on our continent,” he added.

    Lula also voiced concern about the underlying motivations behind the campaign.

    “It can’t just be about overthrowing Maduro. What are the other interests that we don’t yet know about?” he questioned, noting that he did not know whether it was related to Venezuela’s oil, critical minerals, or rare earths.

    “Nobody ever states concretely why this war is necessary,” he remarked.

    According to The Associated Press, around 15,000 US personnel are now involved in the operation, marking the largest military buildup in Latin America in generations, alongside 11 warships, including the US’s largest aircraft carrier, and a squadron of advanced US Marine Corps F-35 fighter jets, in addition to other planes and drones.

  • U.S. to Host Qatari, Egyptian, Turkish Officials for Gaza Ceasefire Talks

    U.S. to Host Qatari, Egyptian, Turkish Officials for Gaza Ceasefire Talks

    The United States Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to hold talks in Miami, Florida, with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey as efforts continue to advance the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. This comes even as Israel has repeatedly violated the truce.

    A White House official informed Al Jazeera Arabic on Friday that Witkoff will meet with representatives from the three countries to discuss the future of the agreement aimed at halting what has been described as Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

    According to Axios, the meeting scheduled for later on Friday will include Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

    Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a limited security meeting. He will discuss the next steps for the ceasefire and look at possible scenarios. An Israeli official warned that Israel might launch a new military campaign to disarm Hamas if U.S. President Donald Trump were to disengage from the Gaza process, although this move seems unlikely as Trump aims to maintain calm in the region.

    Ceasefire is Still in Effect – Washington

    Despite Washington’s claims that the ceasefire is still in effect, Israeli attacks have been ongoing and largely uninterrupted. Israel has not fulfilled the terms of the first phase of the ceasefire and continues to block the crucial flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.

    Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes, artillery shelling, and heavy gunfire across eastern Khan Younis, further escalating violations of the Gaza ceasefire, as reported by an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent on the ground.

    Israeli attacks targeted areas under Israeli control in southern Gaza City, while shelling also hit Bani Suheila, located east of Khan Younis, inside the so-called “yellow line”—territory from which Israel was required to withdraw under the ceasefire agreement.

    Al-Aqsa TV reported that Israeli artillery fire in eastern Khan Younis killed at least three Palestinians, including a woman. The channel also mentioned that Israeli naval vessels opened fire on fishing boats off the city’s coast.

    In other areas, Israeli warplanes bombed Deir el-Balah in central Gaza and conducted another strike in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighborhood, where plumes of smoke rose from the targeted sites.

    According to an analysis by Al Jazeera, Israeli forces carried out attacks on Gaza on 58 of the past 69 days of the truce, leaving only 11 days without reports of deaths, injuries, or violence.

    In Washington, Trump stated on Thursday that Netanyahu is likely to visit him in Florida during the Christmas holidays, as the U.S. president pushes for the initiation of the agreement’s second phase. “Yes, he will probably visit me in Florida. He wants to meet. We haven’t formally arranged it yet, but he wants to meet me,” Trump told reporters.

    Qatar and Egypt, which are mediating and guaranteeing the truce after a devastating two-year genocide in Gaza, have urged a transition to the second phase of the agreement. This plan includes a full Israeli military withdrawal and the deployment of an international stabilization force (ISF).

    Hamas Seeks an End to Israeli Violations and Calls For a Political Solution

    A senior Hamas official stated that the discussions in Miami should focus on ending Israeli violations of the truce in the Palestinian territories. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told the AFP news agency, “Our people expect these talks to result in an agreement that puts an end to ongoing Israeli lawlessness, halts all violations, and compels the occupation to abide by the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement.”

    Naim emphasized that the new talks should facilitate the increased entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

    He added that the discussions should concentrate on “the entry of aid, the opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, and the delivery of everything necessary for repairs and infrastructure rehabilitation.”

    Furthermore, Naim remarked that the talks should also address “the implementation of the remaining elements of the Trump plan in a manner that achieves sustainable stability, launches a comprehensive reconstruction process, and paves the way for a political track that empowers Palestinians to govern themselves, culminating in a fully sovereign and independent state.”

    Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed, warned on Wednesday that daily violations of the Gaza ceasefire by Israel threaten the entire agreement. He emphasized the need for urgent progress towards the next phase of the deal aimed at ending Israel’s wartime actions against the besieged Palestinian enclave.

    This appeal came after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that “delays and ceasefire violations endanger the entire process and place mediators in a difficult position.”

    Fragile Peace, Established Occupation

    The ceasefire is very fragile. Palestinians and human rights groups say it is only a ceasefire in name because Israel is still violating the agreement, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is getting worse.

    Since the ceasefire started on October 10, 2025, Israel has broken the agreement multiple times, causing the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. Gaza’s Government Media Office reports that Israel committed at least 738 violations between October 10 and December 12. These violations included airstrikes, artillery fire, and direct shootings.

    Israeli forces have shot at civilians 205 times and conducted 37 incursions beyond the “yellow line.” They have bombed or shelled Gaza 358 times, demolished properties 138 times, and detained 43 Palestinians. Furthermore, Israel continues to block critical humanitarian aid while systematically destroying homes and infrastructure.

    Amid these events, the media outlet Israel Hayom quoted an Israeli security official stating that the “yellow line” now marks Israel’s new border inside Gaza. An official said that Israeli forces will not leave until Hamas is disarmed. The army is preparing to stay in the area for a long time.

    The newspaper also reported that Israeli military leaders want to keep control of half of Gaza. This suggests that Israel plans to strengthen its occupation instead of pursuing a real ceasefire.

    To make matters worse, a significant storm that recently struck Gaza has killed at least 13 people, causing torrential rains and strong winds that flooded tents and led to the collapse of damaged buildings.

    Israel’s two-year war has devastated over 80 percent of the structures in Gaza, forcing hundreds of thousands of families to seek refuge in flimsy tents or overcrowded makeshift shelters.

  • White House Accuses South Africa of Harassing US Staff

    White House Accuses South Africa of Harassing US Staff

    The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated a sharp and critical assault on the South African government, accusing its officials of egregious harassment and doxxing of staff members who are involved in assisting white Afrikaners in their relocation efforts.

    On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made these serious allegations in a statement, a day following South Africa’s expulsion of seven Kenyan nationals. These individuals had entered the country with U.S. support in order to facilitate the processing of Afrikaner relocations.

    The South African government has stated that these individuals were in the country on tourist visas, which means they cannot work and raises questions about what they were doing.

    Rubio expressed serious concerns, saying that U.S. citizens had been briefly detained during the unrest, an action that Washington strongly condemns. He highlighted that some personal information about U.S. officials was leaked, which is a big problem and might put them in danger. Rubio said that if South Africa doesn’t punish the people who did this, it could hurt their relationship with the U.S.

    The South African government said that no U.S. officials were arrested during the raid. They also mentioned that hiring people in the U.S. without the right papers is a serious issue.

    South African President Denied Accusations

    For months, the Trump administration has pressured South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government. It has accused Ramaphosa’s administration of allowing the persecution of white Afrikaner farmers in a country dealing with complicated land ownership issues. These claims have mostly spread within far-right groups but are now getting more attention.

    Ramaphosa has strongly denied these accusations. Key elected officials, including leaders from the Afrikaner community, have called the allegations harmful misinformation. This was discussed at a lively gathering at the White House in May.

    The Trump administration has continued to facilitate the relocation of members of the Afrikaner community through the U.S. refugee program, even as it has drastically curtailed refugee admissions for nearly all other nationalities. This reduction has plummeted to a historic low of 7,500 for 2026, a move that various human rights organizations have fiercely criticized as blatant racism.

    Additionally, the Trump administration has escalated tensions by expelling South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S., boycotting the G20 summit held in Johannesburg, and excluding South Africa from participating in next year’s event in Miami, further straining diplomatic relations between the two nations.

  • Trump Media Plans to Merge with Nuclear Fusion Firm to Power AI

    Trump Media Plans to Merge with Nuclear Fusion Firm to Power AI

    President Donald Trump is entering the fusion power industry through a $6 billion merger of his social media company and TAE Technologies, which is backed by Google. This announcement comes just days after industry leaders asked the federal government for more funding.

    On Thursday, an all-stock deal was announced that invests in energy growth due to the rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This deal adds to the diverse business interests of the Trump family, which include cryptocurrency, real estate, and mobile services.

    As the technology industry needs more energy, there is renewed interest in nuclear power. This involves restarting closed reactors, expanding existing nuclear power plants, and planning new small modular reactors.

    Nuclear fusion is a clean and reliable energy source, but it has yet to develop a commercially operational reactor, despite many years of research.

    For over ten years, TAE Technologies has partnered with Google Research to explore fusion science. Its investors include Chevron and the Sumitomo Corporation of America. Founded in 1998, TAE also has a business for energy storage and another that develops targeted cancer treatments.

    When the merger is complete in mid-2026, shareholders from both companies will own about 50% of the new company. Trump Media and Technology Group will be the holding company for the Truth Social platform, TAE Power Solutions, and TAE Life Sciences.

    Major Political Support

    Trump Media’s shares rose nearly 33% in early trading, getting attention from retail investors on Stocktwits. However, the company’s stock has lost almost 70% of its value this year.

    Wedbush analyst Dan Ives noted that TAE is likely to receive significant support from President Trump.

    Since returning to the office this year, Trump’s family has been pursuing business ventures that benefit from his political influence. They’ve made billions in cryptocurrency as Trump supports digital financial assets.

    Companies and scientists have been trying for years to create fusion reactions. This process involves forcing light atoms together at extreme temperatures to release large amounts of energy, similar to how the sun works.

    There are major challenges to making fusion energy a reality. These include producing more energy from the reaction than is used to start it, and building plants that can handle the intense fusion reactions to provide power to the grid.

    This month, TAE CEO Michl Binderbauer and leaders from other fusion companies met with officials from the US Energy Department. This meeting followed the department’s decision to set up its first fusion office.

    Terms of The Agreement

    The company has raised over $1.3 billion in private funding and aims to develop and sell next-generation neutral beam systems for fusion and related applications in a more cost-effective way.

    Trump Media has agreed to provide up to $200 million in cash to TAE upon signing, with an additional $100 million available following the initial filing for registration. This deal has been approved by the boards of both companies.

    The two companies plan to begin construction on the world’s first utility-scale fusion power plant next year. Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes, a Republican congressman who resigned in 2021 to lead the company, stated on an investor call that they plan to “quickly seek approvals” once the deal closes, with site searches for the plant expected to begin by the end of 2026.

    Nunes did not offer further details during the brief eight-minute investor call. He will serve as co-CEO of the new company alongside Binderbauer. The combined entity will have a nine-member board that includes Nunes, Binderbauer, and Donald Trump Jr.

    Trump Media primarily generates revenue from advertising on the Truth Social platform but has consistently reported losses since its inception. In the third quarter ending September, the company experienced a decline in revenue and reported a loss of $54.8 million.

  • Putin Criticizes Western ‘War Hysteria’ as EU Considers Russian Assets for Ukraine

    Putin Criticizes Western ‘War Hysteria’ as EU Considers Russian Assets for Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow will achieve its goals and dismissed the idea of war with the West. This comes as the European Union considers taking Russian funds to support Ukraine during a difficult fourth winter of the conflict.

    In a meeting with Ministry of Defence officials, Putin, as reported by state media, called the West’s calls for war preparation “hysteria and a lie.” He stated that the Kremlin will definitely reach its war goals and mentioned that 300 territories were “liberated” last year.

    Putin repeated that Moscow prefers to solve the root causes of the conflict through negotiation, but it is also ready to use military action to “liberate its historical lands” if the West does not engage in important discussions.

    These comments come one day before EU leaders meet to discuss whether to use part of the 210 billion euros ($246 billion) in Russian central bank assets in Europe to support Ukraine’s economic and military needs.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers, “It is clear that we must decide on funding Ukraine for the next two years during this European Council meeting.”

    European Council President António Costa, who will lead the summit, promised to keep the negotiations going until an agreement is reached, even if it takes several days.

    European Union officials want to use frozen Russian assets to support a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan for Ukraine. However, some countries, like Belgium and Italy, have raised concerns about the legality of this idea and have either rejected it or expressed serious doubts.

    In a speech to the Italian parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said negotiations in Berlin were “constructive.” She accused Russia of making unreasonable demands to keep Ukrainian territory in any agreements. She admitted that finding a legal way to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine is difficult. She stated that Italy needs a strong legal basis for any actions taken.

     

    The UK Government will Donate £2.5 billion to the Ukrainians

     

    Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in the House of Commons that his government will officially instruct the transfer of £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC to help humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Starmer said the Russian billionaire, who sold the club in 2022 due to pressure from the British government after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, must “pay up.”

    On the battlefield, Ukraine said it had taken 90 percent of the town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, which Russia claimed to have captured in November. Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said during a televised meeting that Ukrainian forces were unsuccessfully trying to control Kupiansk.

    Russia claims to control all of Crimea, about 90 percent of the eastern Donbas region (including Donetsk and Luhansk), and 75 percent of Kherson and Zaporizhia. Russia also holds some territories in the nearby regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv.

    Recently, both Russia and Ukraine have increased their attacks on each other’s energy sites and oil refineries.

  • Naveed Akram Charged With 15 Murder Counts Over Bondi Shooting

    Naveed Akram Charged With 15 Murder Counts Over Bondi Shooting

    Naveed Akram is the only suspect left after the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. He faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act, according to New South Wales police.

    Akram, 24, was seriously injured during the incident. His father, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in a gunfight with police. The attack killed 15 people and injured many more. It targeted Australia’s Jewish community during a celebration for the first night of Hanukkah. This shooting is the deadliest in Australia since 1996.

    In addition to the murder charges, Akram also faces 40 charges for causing severe harm with the intent to kill and one charge for displaying a symbol of a banned terrorist organization.

    Akram went to his first court hearing from his hospital bed. The court has postponed the case until April 2026. On Wednesday, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said they are waiting for Akram to recover from his medication before questioning him. He stated, “To be fair, we need him to understand what is happening.”

    As of Wednesday evening, 17 people are still receiving treatment in Sydney hospitals. One person is in critical condition, and four others are critically injured but stable. Police have labeled the attack as a terrorist incident. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it seems to be motivated by ideas linked to the Islamic State group.

     

    Naveed Used Australian Passport to Enter the Philippines

     

    8On Tuesday, reports confirmed that a father and son traveled to the Philippines in November. The Philippine Immigration Bureau told the BBC that they were in the country from November 1 to November 28, visiting the southern city of Davao.

    Naveed Akram entered using an Australian passport, while his father, Sajid, used an Indian passport. Sajid Akram is from Hyderabad in southern India but had little contact with his family there, according to a police official from Telangana.

    The attack led to several deaths, including two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda. Boris and Sofia Gurman, a couple who had confronted one of the gunmen during the attack, also lost their lives. In total, 27 people went to the hospital for injuries, including two police officers. One officer, 22-year-old Jack Hibbert, lost vision in one eye and faces a long recovery, according to his family.

    Earlier that day, thousands attended the funeral for Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the first victims. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not go to the funeral. When asked about his absence on ABC NewsRadio, he said, “I would attend anything that I’m invited to. These are funerals taking place to farewell people’s loved ones.”

    The Jewish community criticized Albanese for not doing enough to fight antisemitism. In response, he told ABC NewsRadio he has appointed the country’s first antisemitism envoy, strengthened hate speech laws, and increased funding for community projects and Jewish institutions.

    At Rabbi Schlanger’s funeral, Rabbi Levi Wolff called his death an “unspeakable loss” for the community. “Eli was taken from us while doing what he loved,” he said. “He spread love and joy while caring for his people. His self-sacrifice made him one of the highest and holiest souls.” Rabbi Schlanger helped organize the Hanukkah event on Sunday.

    Funerals for the other victims will take place over the next few days, including for Matilda, the youngest victim, on Thursday.

  • US Military Attacked Vessels in The Eastern Pacific, Killing 8

    US Military Attacked Vessels in The Eastern Pacific, Killing 8

    The United States says it killed eight people in recent attacks on ships in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This happened just days after the US military took control of a Venezuelan oil tanker, part of its ongoing military buildup in Latin America.

    The US Military Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) posted on social media that it carried out “lethal strikes” on three vessels in international waters on Monday. These strikes followed orders from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. SOUTHCOM reported that eight people were killed: three on the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third. They claimed, without providing evidence, that those killed were involved in drug trafficking.

    Since September, at least 90 people have died in similar US attacks on many vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. Experts in international law have criticized these actions as extrajudicial killings by the US military.

     

    Role of Hegseth in the Attacks

     

    Some US lawmakers have questioned Hegseth about his role in the attacks, asking if he ordered a second strike on a boat that targeted two survivors from a previous attack who were clinging to debris in September. The Pentagon has also sent warships, submarines, drones, and fighter jets to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, claiming these efforts are meant to combat drug smuggling in the area.

    Venezuela has stated that the attacks and the US military buildup aim to allow “external powers to rob Venezuela’s oil and gas wealth.” This was said even before US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week. US President Donald Trump also said, “I assume we’re going to keep the oil.”

     

    US Military Attacked Vessels in The Eastern Pacific, Killing 8

     

    The US military will use airports in Trinidad and Tobago, which are close to Venezuela. This decision comes after recent attacks on ships in Latin America and an increase in the US military presence in the region.

    On Monday, Trinidad and Tobago announced it had allowed US military aircraft to use its airports “in the coming weeks.” The government said this would support “logistical” tasks, including resupplying and rotating personnel.

    Trinidad and Tobago has supported the US military buildup, unlike some leaders in Central and South America. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated that she prefers strong action against drug traffickers, saying she would rather see them “blown to pieces” than let them harm her citizens.

    In response, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro said on Monday that Venezuela would stop supplying gas to Trinidad and Tobago, according to state television channel Telesur.