Middle East leader passes away at 86

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was hospitalized last month due to an undisclosed health condition

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has passed away at the age of 86 after being rushed to the hospital last month with an undisclosed health emergency.

The news was broken on Saturday by state TV, citing a statement from the royal court. “With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn … the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” it said, without clarifying the cause of death.

According to several media reports, Kuwait TV broke the news coverage across all channels airing passages from the Quran.

The emir was admitted to the hospital in late November for unknown reasons. At the time, KUNA news agency, citing a local official, reported that his condition was stable, and he was to “receive the necessary treatment and conduct medical examinations.” He is believed to have previously traveled to the US in 2021 for unspecified medical checks.

Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah ruled the oil-rich state for just three years, taking over in September 2020 following the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. According to Al Jazeera, the next in line to rule is Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, the crown prince, who served as deputy chief of the National Guard from 2004 to 2020.

Before assuming the top post, Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah served as defense minister during Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in the 1990s. He also served at various times as deputy chief of the National Guard and minister of the interior.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his “deepest condolences” to Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, saying the late leader “rightly enjoyed great authority in the Middle East” and did much to strengthen Kuwait’s positions on the world stage. “We appreciate his personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly Russian-Kuwaiti relations,” he added.

https://www.rt.com/news/589169-middle-east-leader-passes-away/

Homelessness Soars To Record High In America

Homelessness has risen sharply in the United States, with a report from House and Urban Development (HUD) indicating that around 653,000 people were homeless, the highest number on record.

Inflation combined with the end of pandemic-era protections against eviction were the key culprits identified in the HUD report, released on Dec. 15. Another major factor noted in the report was the housing supply crunch.

HUD's annual 2023 Point-in-Time Count, which measured homelessness on a single night in January 2023, showed a 12 percent rise in homelessness (or by 70,650 individuals) compared to a year earlier. This sent the total to 653,104 homeless people, the highest since the agency launched the point-in-time gauge in 2007.

"For those on the frontlines of this crisis, it’s not surprising. People across the country are struggling to pay skyrocketing rents," Ann Olivia, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement.

The sharpest rise in homelessness was among people in families with children—this measure rose by 15.5 percent. Next was homelessness among unaccompanied youths, which increased by 15.3 percent.

Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who is running for the U.S. Senate, blamed President Joe Biden's policies for fueling homelessness.

"In Joe Biden's America, it's almost impossible to pay rent or afford a home," she wrote in a post on X while pledging to address chronic street homelessness if elected in 2024.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/homelessness-soars-record-high-america

Israeli PsyOp Unit Runs War-Porn Telegram Channel Glorifying IDF Misconduct

To cultivate war fever in Israeli society, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) psychological warfare unit has been secretly operating a war-porn channel that glorifies misconduct by IDF soldiers engaged in the invasion of Gaza, to include the abuse of dead bodies.

The IDF denies that it runs the channel, but a senior military official who finds the tactic objectionable has blown the whistle – confirming the IDF role to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The channel, called 72 Virgins - Uncensored, exists on Telegram, which is an instant messaging app. According to the senior military official, the IDF Operations Directorate's Influencing Department is running it. That unit is tasked with operations against enemies and foreign audiences. The channel's targeting of Israeli audiences seemingly runs afoul of Israeli law.

The whistle-blowing senior official is troubled by the entire undertaking:

"There is no reason for the IDF to conduct influence campaigns on Israeli citizens of Israel. The messages there are problematic. It doesn't look like an awareness campaign of an army like the IDF, but more like talking points for [far-right rapper] The Shadow, and the fact that soldiers operate such a problematic page is egregious."

A member of the right-wing Likud Party, The Shadow is known for incendiary rhetoric, such as urging paramedics to harvest the organs of Palestinians so they can be used by Jews.

Boasting of "exclusive content from the Gaza Strip," the 72 Virgins - Uncensored has more than 5,000 followers and posts video and photos showing the killings and captures of Hamas militants, as well as images of the dead. The commentary accompanying the posts strikes a decidedly adolescent tone:

“Burning their mother … You won’t believe the video we got! You can hear the crunch of their bones. We’ll upload it right away, get ready.”

“Exterminating the roaches … exterminating the Hamas rats … Share this beauty.”

On a post purportedly showing machine gun rounds being dipped in pork fat: “What a man!!!!! Lubricates bullets with lard. You won’t get your virgins.”

The channel has also celebrated the abuse of Palestinian dead. In a video posted on Oct. 14, an IDF vehicle repeatedly runs over the corpse of Hamas militant. The caption: "Very good, Gershon!!! Run him over run him over!!!! Screw the bastards! Flatten them."

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israeli-psyop-unit-runs-war-porn-telegram-channel-glorifying-idf-misconduct

California Voters Without Party Preference Cannot Vote for Presidential Candidates

According to the California Secretary of State’s website, voters who have not declared a political party preference are considered “No Party Preference” (NPP) voters.

If an NPP voter wishes to vote for a U.S. President, they must request a ballot with presidential candidates from one of the following parties: the American Independent Party, the Democratic Party, or the Libertarian Party. This can be done through various means such as phone, email, fax, or other electronic methods.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/california-voters-without-party-preference-cannot-vote-presidential/

Israel Resuming Hostage Talks After Ugly Details Emerge Of 'Friendly Fire' Incident

Israel's Mossad spy agency director David Barnea has been dispatched back to Doha amid reports that the Netanyahu government is open to pursuing a second temporary truce and hostage deal.

Axios describes it as "the first meeting between senior Israeli and Qatari officials since the collapse of the seven-day ceasefire that led to the expansion of the Israeli military operation to southern Gaza." Looming in the background is intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu in the wake of Friday's 'friendly fire' incident which killed three hostages who had been trying to escape Hamas captivity.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/intentional-destruction-first-covid-now-comes-great-taking

Smart toys pose privacy risk to children and families

The 2023 "Trouble in Toyland" report, which focuses on safety hazards in traditional children's toys and is annually produced by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), emphasized warning parents of new threats on smart toys that pose a privacy risk to children and families. According to the 38th yearly report, toys with microphones, cameras and trackers, recalled toys, water beads, counterfeits and Meta Quest VR headsets, could spy on kids and collect kids' iris scans, fingerprints, vital signs and more.

"The riskiest features of smart toys are those that can collect information, especially without our knowledge or used in a way that parents didn't agree to," Teresa Murray, Consumer Watchdog at the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and author of the report said via a press release. "It's chilling to learn what some of these toys can do." She told Defender they are also watching for developments with artificial intelligence (AI) built into toys. PIRG added that smart toys include stuffed animals that listen and talk; devices that learn their habits; games with online accounts; and smart speakers, watches, play kitchens and remote cars that connect to apps or other technology.

As the season of gift-giving is just around the corner, Deputy Director of Kids in Danger Dev Gowda also alerted that adults should be careful in gifting kids with toys that connect automatically to unsecured Wi-Fi networks or pair automatically with other devices through Bluetooth as these may share information through a toy’s microphone, camera, or video camera. "AI-enabled toys with a camera or microphone may be able to, for example, assess a child's reactions using facial expressions or voice inflection. This may allow the toy to try and form a relationship with the child and gather and share information with others that could risk the child's safety or privacy," PIRG further stated. "Some [smart toys] can collect data on your child and transmit it off of the toy to a company's external servers."

As for where sensitive data may end up, Murray said, "It goes wherever the companies that collect it want it to go," adding that while the data collected should not be used in a way that is not necessary for "playtime," or kept for longer than needed or that deviates from what parents agreed to. "But it often is, unfortunately," she lamented.

According to Research and Markets, the global market for smart toys grew to $16.65 billion in 2023, from $14.11 billion in 2022, and is expected to exceed $35 billion by 2027. A big bulk of the earnings may come from monetizing their private information and manipulating them to achieve marketing objectives, which has been what Big Tech has been doing recently, California-based attorney Robert Barnes said.

Information about children often is used for marketing: to try to sell the kids things they don't need or the parents don't want to buy," Murray said. "The information can also be sold or shared with data brokers and can endanger a child's safety, especially if there's geolocation information, and it can be used to defraud or scam a family." Apart from targeted marketing, Murray also warned about identity theft. "Even if the databases aren't shared, they're often hacked, and this is part of the reason that millions of people become victims of fraud and identity theft every year," she said.

VR headsets may expose 10- to 12-year-old children to explicit content

Among the highlighted smart toys in the report is Meta's new virtual reality (VR) headset, the Quest 3, which targets the 10 to 12 age bracket. "We found using Meta's new junior accounts greatly increases parental controls … but we also found these new additions fail to eliminate some real concerns," the PIRG report included. "Playing games often requires agreeing to different third-party companies' data practices wholesale. VR headsets also can gather sensitive motion data, which can be used to infer health or demographic details about you, and there's virtually no regulation controlling how companies or other actors use this data."

The report identified the headsets' risks including the potential exposure to sexually graphic content and headsets not designed to fit still-developing young bodies. This will violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), a federal law that regulates online services targeted to children under age 13, including services that collect personal data. The law is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

http://www.stationgossip.com/2023/12/chilling-report-smart-toys-pose-privacy_16.html

HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS ISRAELI ARMY GATHERINGS WITH MISSILES, DRONES

On December 16, Hezbollah attacked several gatherings of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) close to the border line with Lebanon.

The group said that its fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in Birkat Risha and fired an anti-tank guided missile at a fortified post in the same military site. It also announced that other gatherings were targeted in the al-Matla site and the area of Haraj Ramim.

Moreover, Hezbollah fighters opened fire at two houses in the settlement of al-Manara which were occupied by Israeli troops.

The fighters targeted another gathering close to the Ramim barracks with a suicide drone. The IDF said that two drones, not just one, infiltrated from southern Lebanon. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system, while the second hit an area near the settlement of Margaliot. Casualties were reported.

The attacks were carried out “to support the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance,” Hezbollah said.

In addition, the IDF reported that three rockets were fired from southern Lebanon at northern Israel, setting off sirens in Kiryat Shmona and nearby settlements. No casualties were reported and Hezbollah has not yet claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.

The IDF said that it had struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including military compounds and a rocket launcher, in response to recent attacks. Lebanese media reported heavy strikes on Mount Blat along the border with Israel. However, no civilians were hurt.

https://southfront.press/hezbollah-attacks-israeli-army-gatherings-with-missiles-drones-videos/

Man Charged For Beheading Satanic Display In Iowa State Capitol

The man who destroyed a Satanic holiday display in the Iowa State Capitol on Thursday has been arrested and charged, police said.

Michael Cassidy, 35, was arrested after allegedly beheading a Baphomet statue put up last week by the Satanic Temple of Iowa, the Iowa State Police confirmed to Fox News.

He has been charged with 4th-degree criminal mischief.

Cassidy, a former Navy pilot who now works as a flight instructor and was previously a Mississippi congressional candidate, explained to The Republic Sentinel why he decided to destroy the Satanic display.

“I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged,” Cassidy told the outlet. “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”

“The world may tell Christians to submissively accept the legitimization of Satan, but none of the founders would have considered government sanction of Satanic altars inside Capitol buildings as protected by the First Amendment,” Cassidy added. “Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water.”

After being charged, Cassidy posted a Bible verse to social media on Thursday evening.

“1 Peter 5:8 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” Cassidy posted on X.

The Satanic Temple of Iowa said in a Facebook post that the statue was “destroyed beyond repair” but that they will continue their holiday display for the next few days.

“We ask that for safety, visitors travel together and use the 7 Tenets as a reminder for empathy, in the knowledge that justice is being pursued the correct way, through legal means,” the group wrote. “Happy Holidays! Hail Satan!”

The Satanic Temple of Iowa said it obtained permission from the state for the display, which was reportedly set up near displays of the Nativity on the first floor of the Iowa Capitol. The display showed the idol Baphomet holding a pentacle surrounded by candles.

Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) encouraged residents to counter the “objectionable” display with more speech.

“Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable. In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the nativity scene that will be on display – the true reason for the season,” Reynolds said Tuesday in a statement.

http://www.yourdestinationnow.com/2023/12/man-charged-for-beheading-satanic.html

Israeli hostages killed by IDF fire screamed 'help,' held white flag

IDF finds hostages were fired upon against Israel's rules of engagement • Hostages were hiding in building IDF suspected to be boobytrapped

The three Israeli hostages killed mistakenly by Israeli forces in Gaza screamed "Help!" in Hebrew while holding up a white flag, an initial inquiry into the incident found on Saturday, as per an Israeli military official.

The incident happened in the Shejaia neighborhood of Gaza City, an area of intense combat where Hamas terrorists operate in civilian attire and use deception tactics.

The hostages were fired upon against Israel's rules of engagement, the official added.

According to the inquiry, the hostages were standing near a building with the words "help" and "SOS" spray-painted on its exterior walls.

In addition, IDF also found a message saying "three hostage - help," on the buildings two days before the deadly altercation, the inquiry found.

IDF battalion commander called to cease fire

The IDF immediately shot at the hostages, suspecting the building to be boobytrapped, with a soldier shouting "terrorists."

Two were killed by the initial IDF fire, with one momentarily returning inside the building after being severely wounded. Minutes later, the third hostage appeared out of the building and was shot dead after he was suspected as a terrorist.

The battalion commander on the field reportedly called to cease fire at the third hostage, but three soldiers shot him dead.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-778272

The Four Most Repeated Pieces of Likud Political Zionist Propaganda for Over 50 Years

https://www.globalresearch.ca/four-most-repeated-pieces-likud-political-zionist-propaganda-over-50-years/5843369

Wallingford-Swarthmore School District ‘Bans’ Christmas Decorations on Buses and Restricts Employees’ from Wearing Christmas Attire

In a recent memo addressed to all drivers and aides, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District outlined new guidelines regarding holiday decorations and attire.

The Gateway Pundit obtained the memo, issued on December 15, 2023, by Patti Diaferio, Transportation Supervisor at Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, cites concerns raised by parents about district employees displaying Christmas-themed decorations and clothing.

According to the memo, the directive follows complaints received by Dr. Marseille, a senior figure in the district. Employees who have decorated their buses with Christmas or other religious-specific items are instructed to remove them immediately.

This policy extends to personal attire, prohibiting employees from wearing clothing related to Christmas or any other religious holiday.

Moreover, the district has extended these guidelines to encompass its offices and school buses, explicitly forbidding the playing of Christmas music or any music associated with a specific religion.

The memo emphasizes that these directives are not limited to the transportation department but apply to all employees across the district.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/wallingford-swarthmore-school-district-bans-christmas-decorations-buses/

Rabbi DESTROYS Zionism's Antisemitism with Yaakov Shapiro

https://youtu.be/2AfrGUgcCW4