Free Republic

A war-battered Ukraine on Tuesday commemorated the 10th anniversary of the so-called Maidan revolution, the popular uprising that toppled a pro-Russia president, showcased the nation’s embrace of European values and foreshadowed the current conflict with Moscow. Across Ukraine, people laid flowers at monuments honoring those killed during the protests, and officials hailed the uprising that started in 2013 as a milestone on the road to achieving greater democracy and to standing up to Russia. In a video address released on Tuesday morning, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said: “10 years ago, we began a new chapter in our struggle. 10...

BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - Wealthy nations could provide 100 of the world's most vulnerable countries a combined $25 billion in annual protection against climate disasters for as little as $10 million per nation, research published on Tuesday showed. With rich nations under pressure to fill the pot, researchers from the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership said they had reached a "breakthrough" in understanding how to use this money to protect countries from the spiralling cost of storms, drought and rising sea levels. Donor funds of $10 million per recipient country, when used as premium support, could yield $200 million...

URBANDALE, Iowa — Longshot Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum insists he’s staying in the 2024 race at least long enough to “beat expectations” in January’s Iowa caucuses — a goal which he joked should be easy to meet, since he has “the lowest expectations.” The billionaire North Dakota governor failed to qualify for the third RNC debate earlier this month, is unlikely to make the stage for the next debate Dec. 6 in Alabama, and is averaging just 2.7% support in the Hawkeye State, according to RealClearPolitics — a mere 44.3 percentage points behind former President Donald Trump. So what,...

A recent poll released by the University of North Florida shows leading Republican presidential contender and 45th President Donald J. Trump with a commanding lead over Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and the rest of the GOP field in the Florida Republican presidential primary. As has been the case for months, this is Trump's race to lose, as millions of Americans rally behind Trump's presidential agenda. "When given a list of possible candidates, 60% of respondents indicated a vote for Donald Trump, followed by 21% for Ron DeSantis in a distant second place. Nikki Haley came in third with 6%, followed...

For the second year in a row, the IRS has decided to postpone implementation of a rule change that would affect tax filers who receive business income for their goods and services via payment apps and online marketplaces like Venmo, CashApp, Etsy and Airbnb, among others. The change might have resulted in 44 million more 1099-K forms being sent in January to such filers, including small business owners, freelancers, those with side hustles and gig workers. In explaining why it is postponing implementation again, the IRS cited concern over potential taxpayer confusion and the need to make it easier for...

Less than a year removed from his legendary playing career, Tom Brady evidently is not impressed with the current level of play in the NFL. "I think there's a lot of mediocrity in today's NFL. I don't see the excellence that I saw in the past," Brady said during an appearance Monday on "The Stephen A. Smith Show." Brady, who retired earlier this year after a record-setting 23-year career, cited numerous reasons for his evaluation of the game, including coaching and player development. "I think the coaching isn't as good as it was," Brady said. "I don't think the development...

An oil spill late last week could have released up to 1.1 million gallons of crude oil off the southeast shore of New Orleans, near Plaquemines Parish, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard first reported the oil spill Friday after overflight teams saw oil moving away from the Louisiana shore. On Monday, the Coast Guard said in a press release that the spill was near the Main Pass Oil Gathering’s (MPOG) company pipeline system, which stretches 67 miles. While it was not immediately clear when or where the leak took place, the Coast Guard said MPOG closed the...

Russia cannot co-exist with the current "regime" in Kyiv but Moscow can resist the might of NATO for as long as it needs to fully demilitarize Ukraine, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday. President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a major European land war and the most serious confrontation between Russia and the West since the depths of the Cold War. Including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Russia now controls 17.5% of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory. A Ukrainian counter-offensive has failed to make any significant gains this year against Russian forces.

For the first time in two decades, a Silicon Valley congressmember is poised to retire and shake up the South Bay’s political landscape — with many local Democrats reportedly eyeing the seat. Multiple sources in Sacramento and Silicon Valley told San José Spotlight that Rep. Anna Eshoo plans to end her three-decade congressional career at the end of her term in 2024. Sources said the official announcement is coming in a matter of weeks. Eshoo, who earned notoriety for spearheading cybersecurity, innovation and high-tech legislation, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 after serving on the San...

It's the most wonderful time of the year — for a certain brand of fast-food fan, at least. It's the time for tangy barbeque poured over a boneless pork patty, topped with dill pickle chips and slivered onions, all between a toasted bun. It's the time for the McRib. McDonald's McRib hit restaurants nationwide earlier this month and will be available through mid-December, per confirmation from employees at the 234 S. National Ave. and 528 S. Glenstone Ave. locations.

Americans will be tossing their cookies once they learn about a nefarious plan by the Girl Scouts to indoctrinate troops with radical Marxist ideas about race.Patti Garibay, the founder of American Heritage Girls, exposed the plans during an interview on the Todd Starnes Show on Newsmax.She said the Girl Scouts are introducing a four-part, racial equity training series that will include lessons on internalized racism and white supremacy culture.

You can’t always get what you want, but you actually can if you’re a Rolling Stones fan looking to see the band live. The Stones announced that they’re hitting the road in 2024 and will perform in 16 cities across the United States and Canada. While music is timeless and age is nothing but a number, Mick Jagger is 80, Ron Wood is 76 and Keith Richards is 79. These men know their audience. AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, is the tour’s sponsor. If that isn’t enough, AARP members will have access to presale starting...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the release of additional January 6 security footage, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced that the bureau would record 44,000 hours of live commentary for a special extended edition release on DVD. "People want commentary from the experts, and no one knows January 6 better than the people who orchestrated the entire show," said Wray. "Which is us. We did January 6." "In case you weren't aware." Commentary is expected to feature insight from the actual federal agents who infiltrated the Trump rally and directly instigated entering the Capitol building. Agents will reportedly share a mix of...

The Federal Reserve are unelected birds of war. They manipulate interest rates in an attempt to manipulate economic and social outcomes. Often making everything worse. Global mortgage rates are soaring, much of due to central bank tightening after the Covid fiasco of 2020 as central banks try to reign in inflation caused by rampant government spending. Most homeowners are now locked into low borrowing costs, which is hampering home sales. The US conforming mortgage rate (30Y) is up 156% under Biden while the 10-year Treasury yield is up 304%. Wake Joe up, before the election. He is off on vacation...

"Everything changed" in Israel on Oct. 7. Except it did not. Despite much talk of victory by the prime minister and survey research showing the public endorses a tough new approach, Israeli officialdom and its security establishment show signs of reverting to their old failed policies, even before the bodies have all been buried.Those failed policies mean primarily one thing: wrongly assuming that enrichment – more work permits in Israel, a larger fishing zone, outside funding – gives Palestinians something to lose, taming them and making them less inclined to aggress.Symptoms of that sad reversion include the following:The security establishment...

Seattle Parks and Recreation is looking to add a children’s play area to a local park. Normally, there would be no controversy, but it’s a specific park that’s causing the problem. Denny Blaine Park, located near the Madison Park neighborhood on Lake Washington is one of the only nude beaches in Seattle. According to City of Seattle spokesperson Christina Hirsch, Seattle is considering putting a small children’s playground on the northwest corner of the park. The area was identified as needing a play area due to it currently sitting within a neighborhood that doesn’t have a play area or park...

A Memphis man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter over two years after he reportedly shot and killed a man who was taking out the trash after dinner. Court records show 24-year-old Metavious Bishop was first charged with second-degree murder for the July 2021 slaying, but he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter on October 26, 2023. He was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on Monday. According to the arrest affidavit, on the night of July 8, 2021, officers found 24-year-old Ray Taylor shot to death in...

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and I can already taste my wife’s delicious turkey. But let’s face it, it’s not always fun to gather with your extended family around the holidays and break bread with them. In fact, for many of us, it’s more of an obligation than a celebration, and we really just can’t wait until it’s over—at least, that’s how it always was for me growing up. Later in my life, we pretty much tend to stick to immediate family only for our holidays, and it’s much more bearable, even if we do differ ideologically. At...

In a "social forum" presided over by Iran's ambassador to the UN Ali Bahreini, the Committee on Human Rights called for some drastic changes to the US Constitution. "An examination of this document reveals that it bars the government from infringing on freedom of speech," Bahreini complained. "This means any fool can commit blasphemy or insult the government without fear of punishment. This affront to piety and obedience is compounded by a provision allowing people to keep and bear arms. How can the government effectively rule when those they need to chastise have the means to resist?" Farideh Karimi, an...

Ten minutes before Vivek Ramaswamy was to take the stage in a dated casino hotel in western Iowa, no one was in the conference room except for two staffers from the Iowa GOP, which organized the event, and a group of journalists. Guests started trickling in at the time the event was scheduled. By the time Ramaswamy began his remarks an hour later, there were about 60 people. Ramaswamy’s campaign said in early November that it would spend up to $8 million in advertising through the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15. So far, the campaign has booked just $162,000 in...