The Political Thread

[Chris]

Macy’s Employee Accused of Concealing $132 Million in Delivery Costs | PYMNTS.com

Macy’s has delayed its earnings call after discovering a multimillion-dollar “intentional” employee accounting error. That employee, the retailer said in

www.pymnts.com

Macy’s has delayed its earnings call after discovering a multimillion-dollar “intentional” employee accounting error.

That employee, the retailer said in a securities filing Monday (Nov. 25) had hidden at least $132 million in delivery expenses over a nearly three-year period.

According to the filing, this employee — who no longer works for the company — “intentionally made erroneous accounting accrual entries” to conceal between $132 million and $154 million of delivery expenses between Macy’s fourth quarter of 2021 and the quarter which ended earlier this month.

 

[Loochblade]

Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Sergei Shoigu pledges Russia's intent to build closer ties with the Taliban Government of Afghanistan, and states that the United States should lead rebuilding efforts due to its part in the War in Afghanistan.

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-pledges-broader-afghanistan-ties-says-us-should-help-rebuild-2024-11-26/

 

[Chris]

Israeli Cabinet approves Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal

The ceasefire went into effect 4 a.m. Wednesday, local time, which was five hours after the ceasefire agreement was announced.

abcnews.go.com

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recommending the country's security cabinet agree to a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah that was brokered by the U.S., he said in a taped video message Tuesday evening local time.

The prime minister hailed "great achievements" on all fronts of the war, including killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and destroying their weapons across the country.

Netanyahu attended a meeting with security officials on Sunday night regarding a ceasefire with Israel's Hezbollah adversaries in Lebanon, an Israeli official told ABC News.

 

[Chris]

Israeli Cabinet approves Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal

The ceasefire went into effect 4 a.m. Wednesday, local time, which was five hours after the ceasefire agreement was announced.

abcnews.go.com

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recommending the country's security cabinet agree to a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah that was brokered by the U.S., he said in a taped video message Tuesday evening local time.

The prime minister hailed "great achievements" on all fronts of the war, including killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and destroying their weapons across the country.

Netanyahu attended a meeting with security officials on Sunday night regarding a ceasefire with Israel's Hezbollah adversaries in Lebanon, an Israeli official told ABC News.

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-deal-gaza-war-11-26-24-intl-hnk#cm3yx2hx500003b5wdw7uldjh

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said the governments of Israel and Lebanon have accepted a proposal to “end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.”

The president heralded the development as “good news” while speaking from the Rose Garden on Tuesday.

Biden’s remarks comes after an Israeli official told CNN the Israeli security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal to end the fighting with militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The proposal aims to achieve a 60-day cessation of hostilities with Hezbollah that could form the basis of a lasting truce.

 

[Chris]

3 Americans detained for years in China have been released, the White House says

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung have been released from detention, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

www.cbsnews.com

Three imprisoned Americans have been released after years of detention in China, the White House said Wednesday.

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung have been released, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said, and they will soon "return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years."

The Biden administration has repeatedly raised the issue of wrongfully detained Americans with Chinese officials. Mr. Biden spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the issue on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru earlier in November.

 

[Loochblade]

Small tidbit from over here...

The country's interior ministry said that an app would be designed for citizens to find their closest bunker.

Germany is drawing up a list of public and private buildings that could be converted into bunkers if necessary, the country's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
The list would include car parks, underground train stations, state buildings and private properties.

A phone app with a digital directory of bunkers and emergency shelters was also planned, the spokesperson said, adding that citizens would also be encouraged to convert their own basements and garages into shelters.

Germany's tabloid BILD first reported the plan on Monday, saying it was a response to a worsening international threat, particularly from Russia.

Germany plans to turn buildings into bomb shelters

The country's interior ministry said that an app would be designed for citizens to find their closest bunker. #EuropeNews

www.euronews.com

 

[Chris]

Australian social media ban on under-16s approved by Senate

The ban aims to reduce "harms" on children and will take at least a year to implement, the PM says.

www.bbc.com

Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media, after its Senate approved the world's strictest laws.

The ban - which will not take effect for at least 12 months - could see tech companies fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they don't comply.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the legislation is needed to protect young people from the "harms" of social media, something many parent groups have echoed.

 

[Loochblade]

Day 2 of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire sees Israeli airstrike on Lebanon and scattered attacks

The Israeli military says its warplanes have fired on southern Lebanon after detecting activity by the militant Hezbollah group at a rocket storage facility there.

apnews.com

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel on Thursday carried out its first airstrike on Lebanon since a truce with Hezbollah announced this week, saying it targeted the militant group’s activity at a rocket storage facility in southern Lebanon that breached the ceasefire.

Lebanese authorities reported scattered incidents of Israeli mortar attacks, strikes and shots fired that wounded two people trying to return to southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s state-run media said the wounded were civilians, while the Israeli military described them as suspects who violated the terms of the truce that ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

 

[Loochblade]

Romania held their Presidential election last Sunday (or the first round, since no absolute majority was achieved) and guess what...

Călin Georgescu, the Putin admirer and TikTok sensation reshaping Romanian politics

The European Union’s sixth most populous country is grappling with a pressing question: how did an unknown far-right leader, running without the backing of any political party, manage to win the first round of the presidential elections?

english.elpais.com

A large majority of Romanian citizens found themselves on Monday asking a pressing question: Who is Călin Georgescu? The politician won the first round of Romania’s presidential elections on Sunday, receiving over two million votes, representing 22.95% of the electorate. The question is how this far-right populist — a relatively obscure figure with ties to Russia and rhetoric threatening Romania’s pro-West trajectory — managed to secure so much support despite lacking backing from any political party. However, despite his surprise victory on Sunday, the independent candidate faces an uphill battle to claim the presidency.

Georgescu, who now leads the race in the European Union’s sixth most populous country, has stirred controversy with his antisemitic, anti-Western, and nationalist discourse. He frequently lauds the Kremlin, suggesting that Romania’s best course lies in embracing “Russian wisdom,” and argues that the EU and NATO fail to represent Romania’s interests. Georgescu has also echoed Kremlin propaganda by claiming that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — a neighboring country, with which Romania shares a 650-kilometer border — was orchestrated by U.S. defense companies. He has also publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “a man who loves his country.”

A far-right, independent Politician, who loves what his buddies Vlad and Orbán are doing in their countries and whose sudden rise in popularity comes from him campaigning on TikTok... ...and the "pollsters were caught off guard" by the results.

Feels familiar, but I can't put my finger on it.

tbf, he isn't president yet and in the run-off he's going against the centre/centre-right party/candidate Elena Lasconi. It's gonna be a close call, I think, but there is a chance Romania goes full modern Ceausescu.

 

[Tommy MBE]

Romania held their Presidential election last Sunday (or the first round, since no absolute majority was achieved) and guess what...

Călin Georgescu, the Putin admirer and TikTok sensation reshaping Romanian politics

The European Union’s sixth most populous country is grappling with a pressing question: how did an unknown far-right leader, running without the backing of any political party, manage to win the first round of the presidential elections?

english.elpais.com

A far-right, independent Politician, who loves what his buddies Vlad and Orbán are doing in their countries and whose sudden rise in popularity comes from him campaigning on TikTok... ...and the "pollsters were caught off guard" by the results.

Feels familiar, but I can't put my finger on it.

tbf, he isn't president yet and in the run-off he's going against the centre/centre-right party/candidate Elena Lasconi. It's gonna be a close call, I think, but there is a chance Romania goes full modern Ceausescu.

No suprise it's happening all over Europe. Italy has a Far Right Prime Minister and France President Macron called a Snap General Election. So sad to see especially in 2024. Here's one thinking we're getting more progressive and it seems now it's not in some countries which isn't good .

 

[Barry Poppins]

Anonymous (@youranoncentral.bsky.social)

The protests continue to grow in Georgia. #Tbilisi today.

bsky.app

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/01/politics/hunter-biden-joe-biden-pardon/index.html

President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he has pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing this month on gun crime and tax convictions, marking a reversal as he prepares to leave office.

“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” the president said in a statement. It is a “full and unconditional pardon,” according to a copy of the executive grant of clemency.

This official grant of clemency cannot be rescinded by President-elect Donald Trump.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Hey I see it as one big fuck you to Trump so I'm okay with it.

 

[Tommy MBE]

But pardoning his son, now opens a big can of worms with Trump as he's obviously gonna say you see what I mean. Don't know why this was done as it just causes more controversy for the Democratic Party.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Trump would cry foul regardless, and I genuinely believe that no leftists actually gives a shit about Hunter Biden, and if they did, they're fucking dumbasses.