From Norway's northern borders to the shores of Australia, over 900 US military bases across the globe underscore the pervasive reach of Washington's military influence and an oppressive foreign policy.

The US global footprint not only exemplifies the logistical capabilities of the US military but also serves as a tangible representation of its hegemony.

By establishing bases in nations from Greenland to Japan, the US maintains a persistent presence, enabling the rapid deployment of forces and threatening the whole world. This inescapable control is one of the reasons why more and more countries are realizing the value of sovereignty and taking steps to avoid American domination.

In a surprising twist, the purportedly savvy hedge funds, often deemed the “smart money” of the market, are facing a staggering $43 billion in losses. This downturn serves as a harbinger of shifting tides in the financial landscape, raising questions about the broader implications for investors.

The property market is at the epicenter of the storm, with policymakers applying unprecedented pressure on banks to address a monumental $446 billion funding shortfall. 

A new, fairer and more democratic system of international relations that meets the needs of the world majority is being formed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

"It is obvious that the model of globalization, which was formed largely by Western states — naturally, in their own interests — has outlived its usefulness and is in a deep crisis. A new, fairer and more democratic system of international relations meeting the needs of the world majority is emerging," Putin said in his address to participants of the Primakov Readings forum in Moscow, published by the Kremlin.

Income inequality has surged to levels not witnessed in over a century, prompting discussions on its broader societal implications. Rising inflation expectations have raised questions about the stability of purchasing power, leading to a heightened focus on potential actions by the Federal Reserve to address economic conditions.

The former White House physician has repeatedly expressed doubt about Joe Biden's physical and mental competence to perform his duties, especially in light of next year's US presidential election.

US President Joe Biden's cognitive decline is “happening quickly,” Texas GOP Congressman Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician, told a US broadcaster.

"I've taken care of three presidents… so I know firsthand what it takes to be the commander-in-chief and the head of state. It's a grueling job, both mentally and physically. This man can't do the job. He's proven to us every single day that he can't do the job, but this is going to get worse," Jackson said.

Military investigations launched earlier this year have revealed that US bases in Iraq and Syria have been the target of theft with “multiple sensitive weapons and equipment” having gone missing.

A report by The Intercept yesterday, citing exclusive documents note that the US military presence in both countries have been unable to secure equipment, let alone personnel. This comes amid an uptick in missile and drone attacks against US bases in Iraq and Syria from Iranian-backed Iraqi resistance factions, in solidarity with Israel’s US-supported genocidal war against Gaza launched last month.

The US has since stepped up its own attacks in response, including “precision strikes” against a “training facility and safe house” in Syria, allegedly used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

A stark divergence between large and mid caps, soaring borrowing costs for S&P 500 companies, a prolonged crude oil decline, and soaring hedge fund exposure all contribute to an uneasy market outlook.

Impeachment investigators “need answers” on President Joe Biden‘s tax returns, according to a top House Republican.

In an interview that aired on Sunday, Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) explained to Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo how his panel’s “tax focus” is part of the impeachment inquiry against Biden.

“We have now seen checks going to President Biden of $240,000 as loan repayments to” his brother James Biden, Smith said on “Sunday Morning Futures.”

President Joe Biden got snippy with a reporter who asked him about how his age might affect his prospects for seeking re-election in 2024.

The exchange took place over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, just days after Biden celebrated his 81st birthday amid concerns about his fitness to serve a second term.

“Mr. President, are you too old to be running for re-election?” the journalist asked Biden while he was shopping in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Saturday.

“That’s stupid,” Biden shot back with a smirk, as shown in a clip aired on “Fox News Sunday.”

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) raised concerns over the weekend about the way that the Biden administration has gone about conducting negotiations with Qatar as it seeks the release of numerous Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists last month.

Turner made the remarks during a Sunday interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press” with host Kristen Welker as some of the more than 240 Israeli hostages have started to be released.

“Speaking of the perils here, do you have any concerns that Hamas is delaying the release of American citizens to use them effectively as bargaining chips, Congressman?” Welker asked.

A U.S. Destroyer took five individuals into custody on Sunday after they attempted a terrorist hijacking of an Israeli owned tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

The Liberian-flagged Central Park chemical tanker — which is managed by Zodiac Maritime, a U.K. based firm that is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group — was believed to have been seized earlier in the day.

“US Navy personnel from the USS Mason responded to a distress call from the crew onboard an Israeli linked tanker,” said Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin. “5 armed gunmen tried to hijack the ship in Gulf of Aden. US Navy pursued toward Yemen. Warning shots fired. Gunmen now being interrogated.”

“At approximately 0141 on Nov. 27 Sanaa time, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen toward the general location of the USS MASON (DDG 87) and M/V CENTRAL PARK,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. “The USS MASON (DDG87), which is part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, was concluding its response to the M/V CENTRAL PARK distress call at the time of the missile launches. There was no damage or reported injuries from either vessel during this incident.”

Some Democrats are beginning to respond to constituents’ anger over the high civilian death toll in Gaza, insisting aid to Israel must be contingent on the country’s compliance with humanitarian law. But President Biden remains firmly supportive of the US ally.

Two Democratic Senators have said US aid to Israel must be conditioned on greater efforts to avoid civilian casualties, marking a shift in rhetoric from the party since the early days of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

“We regularly condition our aid to allies based upon compliance with U.S. law and international law,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) in an interview with US media on Sunday. “And that will be a conversation we will all be engaged in when we get back to Washington on Monday.”

• Egypt, Qatar and the United States are pressing for four-day truce to be extended.
• Netanyahu, addressing Israeli forces in Gaza, says: “Nothing will stop us.” He also told Biden he would extend the truce by one day for each further 10 captives released.
• Hamas releases 13 more Israeli captives as well as three Thais and one Israeli-Russian. Meanwhile, 39 more Palestinian prisoners released as part of the third prisoner-captive exchange were greeted by celebrations in the occupied West Bank.

A hostage with the Russian passport has been released as a result of direct agreements with Hamas, not under the prisoner swap deal, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"The efforts Russian diplomats are making in contacts with Hamas concerning the release of hostages are yielding results. Today, a holder of the Russian passport was released and handed over to the Red Cross. Russian diplomats will visit him as soon as it is possible," she wrote on her Telegram channel.

According to the spokeswoman, the released has become possible thanks to "direct agreements between Russian representatives and Hamas." "These efforts will continue," she added.

Last year we reported on Israel's development of a ground-based laser defense system dubbed 'Iron Beam,' which then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called "a game-changer" that could "bankrupt" the enemy.

Defense MinistryIsrael's Iron Beam defense system

Now, it's being reported that the system - which has been in development by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for 15 years, and was originally set for a 2025 rollout, will be deployed more quickly than that due to the Israel-Hamas war, and it may be placed in service as early as 2024.

More than a hundred Rafael engineers have reportedly been working on this project, considered one of the most significant technological challenges ever faced by the Israeli defense industries, in order to create a fast and effective interception system, with inexhaustible and near cost-free ammunition.

Recent tests of Iron Beam in the Negev have shown promising results, with the system successfully intercepting various airborne threats. The heart of the system is an electric laser pointer, capable of targeting and sending out a powerful laser beam, invisible to the naked eye.

According to a source within Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector have been exclusively relegated to processing and caring for the wave of migrants crossing into the sector in recent days. Facing overcrowding at migrant processing facilities in the sector, the source says most non-essential details have been eliminated to re-direct all Border Patrol agents to the task of accommodating the overwhelming number of migrants in custody.

I didn’t realize MAGA was a Canadian thing to. But then again This is the same guy who called Truckers Nazi. 

Is it sundown for the US commercial real estate market?

According to Trepp, the volume of CMBS delinquency increased 49.4% during 10 months through October.

Pennsylvania voters are doubting the integrity of local elections in the swing county of Northampton after issues with touchscreen voting devices arose on the most recent Election Day. The glitches were similar to those seen in the county’s 2019 judges race.

Election officials are scrambling to ensure trust in the voting system as voters and local leaders alike are sounding the alarm, a Saturday Politico report revealed.

Northampton used Election Systems & Software touchscreen machines for the first time in 2019 and saw a “programming glitch” that caused a significant “undercount” of votes in the local judge’s race, the publication reported. Then, on November 7, 2023, suspicion grew when voters discovered that their printouts meant to confirm their votes on the devices did not match their choices for two down-ballot judges races.

Webmaster addition: See HOW TO HAVE HONEST ELECTIONS

At least 99 infections and two deaths have been linked to a salmonella outbreak stemming from recalled cantaloupes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday.

As of Sunday, there have been ​​45 hospitalizations across 32 states as the CDC actively investigates the spread.

The health agency reported that the recall spans across whole cantaloupes that “might” display stickers saying “Malichita” or “Rudy,” with the number “4050,” and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.”

The recalls also include pre-cut cantaloupes in packages or other fruit mixes from the Freshness Guaranteed, RaceTrac, and Vinyard brands, as well as from the grocery store Aldi.

The Russian authorities are in talks to establish military bases in Libya, Bloomberg reports.

According to the report, the deal has been negotiated following a meeting between Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and Khalifa Haftar, Libya’s eastern military commander, in Moscow in late September 2023.

The report says Russia may be given docking rights for its warships, most likely at the port city of Tobruk, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Females and young adults are at an increased risk of suffering from side effects after COVID-19 vaccinations. People who take three doses as compared to two may present different side effects, a Japanese study finds.

The study published on Scientific Reports in November studied 272 hospital employees who received the Pfizer vaccine as a second dose between January to June 2022.

None of the participants had a prior history of COVID-19 infection, and all of their symptoms were examined and diagnosed by doctors at the hospital.

They found "higher frequencies of COVID-19 vaccine-related side effects" and "worse outcomes with longer recovery from side effects" among females and younger adults compared to males and elderly adults, the authors wrote.

More than 100,000 Chinese nationals have migrated into the United States since 2021, and the federal government is doing little to block them or to send them home, the New York Times reported on November 24.

“When [President Joe] Biden and Mr. Xi met last week during an international summit in San Francisco, for instance, immigration was absent in their discussion,” the newspaper reported:

Instead, they talked about fentanyl, American business investment in China and export controls, among other topics.

In the past, American diplomats have tried to work with the Chinese government to persuade it to repatriate its citizens, and the response has tended to be the same.

“They would just plain refuse to acknowledge the person was Chinese,” said Michele Thoren Bond, a former assistant secretary of state who worked on these issues. “It is not credible that a country that documents and monitors its citizens as closely as China does not have photos of every citizen,” Ms. Bond added.

If you are wondering why so many Americans are stressed about their finances these days, just look at the numbers.  The Social Security Administration just released national wage statistics for 2022, and the figures that they have given us do not paint a pretty picture at all. 

More BIG stores are doing the same thing!

Residents of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) were shocked early this week when illegal aliens who got in line before they did for free Thanksgiving dinners given away by local food banks left many low-income citizens without a holiday meal this year.

Reports say that residents of the NYCHA were told when to line up for their turkey dinner and fixings delivery, but when they arrived at the appointed time, they found hundreds of illegals already at the head of the line, according to WNYW-TV.

Queensbridge Housing resident Georgia Butler, for one, was disgusted after losing out to illegals at this year’s food bank give away and noted that illegals were first in line