Afederal judge whom former President Donald Trump nominated will oversee the final stages of first son Hunter Biden's criminal tax case.

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, whom Trump nominated in 2017, will oversee Biden's case during an as-yet-unscheduled court date, One America News reported. The Department of Justice recommends that he receive probation, though Noreika will ultimately have the final word on the first son's sentencing.

The DOJ announced earlier this week that it had arranged a plea deal with Biden wherein he would plead guilty to two tax charges and admit to a gun violation that could potentially be dismissed. Republican critics have deemed it a "sweetheart deal" and contrasted the lenient sentencing recommendation for the first son with the litany of charges against former President Donald Trump that collectively could carry considerable prison time.

Noreika secured Senate confirmation in 2018. She had previously worked as a patent lawyer in Delaware and secured the support of both of the state's Democratic senators to secure her confirmation.

Government records show she has made contributions to both Democratic and Republican political campaigns.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/trump-appointed-judge-will-handle-hunter-bidens-tax-case

Japan needs Russian energy – Mitsui exec

The company announced that it has “no plan to exit” the Sakhalin-2 LNG project

Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co is not planning to withdraw from the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Russia’s Far East, due to its importance in securing stable energy supplies, senior executive managing officer Toru Matsui announced on Wednesday.

“We have no plan to exit the project at the moment,” he said at an annual general meeting, adding that the project was experiencing no issues with operations and continues to supply Japan with super-chilled fuel.

“We have decided last year to keep our stake in the Sakhalin-2 after consulting with the Japanese government as the project supplies about 9% of Japan's LNG imports,” the executive said.

Mitsui, along with Mitsubishi, retained their 22.5% combined stake in the project, even as Western majors such as British Shell opted to leave Sakhalin-2 following the launch of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. Other Asian long-term LNG buyers of the Sakhalin-2 project, including South Korea, have continued importing gas from the venture.

https://www.rt.com/business/578400-japan-russia-lng-export/

https://www.rt.com/business/578400-japan-russia-lng-export/

Barack Obama Gets Handsy with Michelle at the Acropolis in Greece

Climate alarmists Barack and Michelle Obama and their two daughters traveled all the way to Greece this week to work with Obama Foundation counterparts in Athens.

Obama met with 105 members of the Obama Leaders program in Athens this week, according to Greek City Times.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/06/barack-obama-gets-handsy-michelle-acropolis-greece/