Free Republic

Clairvoyant Baba Vanga, long believed by devotees to have foreseen events such as 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic, predicted alien visitors and the outbreak of World War III for this year. The blind Bulgarian mystic, who died in 1996 at age 85, was said to have predicted humanity’s first-ever encounter with extraterrestrial life would take place in November 2026, according to The Mirror. She warned that a colossal alien spacecraft would enter Earth’s atmosphere, though she did not elaborate on the visitors’ intentions. The blind Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga predicted alien visitors and the outbreak of World War III for...

The risk of space debris falling through airspace is going up in 2026, according to researchers. Experts said spacecraft, or parts of one, fall back into the Earth’s atmosphere once a week on average. Most of this space debris is empty rocket stages, while others are dead satellites whose low orbits decayed enough for them to slip into the atmosphere. Most of these “human-made meteors” don’t survive long due to the heat and shredding force that come as the objects speed through the air. However, some bits of debris from these objects can survive long enough to fall through the...

The Xiaomi phone gifted by China’s President Xi Jinping previously made headlines when he jokingly asked his South Korean counterpart to “check if there is a backdoor”.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung snapped a selfie with Xi Jinping using a smartphone gifted to him by the Chinese leader, who had joked at their last meeting that the device might be capable of spying. Lee posted three selfies of himself, Xi and their wives on social media platform X on Monday (Jan 5) during his visit to Beijing. "A selfie with President Xi Jinping and his wife, taken with the Xiaomi...

Iran? Russia? China? Senate Dems? The Maduros themselves? (Naah. Too obvious.)Iran certainly qualifies for the medal round here. The loss of their footprint in Venezuela would disrupt one of the regime's last sources of hard currency via its proxy in Hezbollah, not to mention their ability to influence and terrorize the Western Hemisphere. However, the loss of that link would not in itself become an existential issue for the regime, even though it certainly contributes to its current existential crises. The biggest loser actually exists much closer to home, according to the Wall Street Journal:The capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás...

Let me say this as plainly as I know how: this is not about oil. It’s not about drugs. It’s not about terrorism. It’s not even about communism, Marxism, or socialism alone. It’s about all of it—at the same time. And for the first time in my lifetime, we have a president who is not reacting, not managing decline, not trying to “stabilize” a collapsing system—but playing to win. I’ve never seen this before. Donald Trump has been saying America First his entire life—not as a slogan, but as a worldview. And whether you like his style or not, you...

HOUSTON — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is warning Texans to stay alert as mysterious seed packages keep showing up in mailboxes across the state. Since February 2025, the Texas Department of Agriculture has collected 1,101 packs of unsolicited seeds from 109 locations across the state. Officials say the packages, often shipped from overseas, may look harmless but pose serious risks to crops and ecosystems. "At a glance, this might seem like a small problem, but this is serious business," Miller said. "The possible introduction of an invasive species to the state via these seeds poses real risks to Texas...

Archaeologists in northwest China have uncovered an 8-mile (13km) section of a Qin Dynasty road, believed to date back more than 2,200 years. The ancient military route, part of the Qinzhidao system, was constructed under the orders of Emperor Qinshihuang during China’s first unification period. The newly identified stretch runs through the Hengshan District of Yulin, in Shaanxi Province. The discovery was made during a 2024 survey conducted by the Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute in Yulin. The project focused on documenting the layout and current condition of the road remains. According to the institute, the finding helps further outline...

She is a star of American science. A Stanford chair. A NASA collaborator. A role model for a generation of young researchers. But a chilling congressional investigation has found that celebrated geologist Wendy Mao quietly helped advance China's nuclear and hypersonic weapons programs – while working inside the heart of America's taxpayer funded research system. Mao, 49, is one of the most influential figures in materials science. She serves as Chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University, one of the most prestigious science posts in the country. Her pioneering work on how diamonds behave under...

EXPULSION Before examining the strategic calculus behind the January 3, 2026, military operation in Venezuela, it is essential to understand who actually makes decisions of this magnitude. In the American national security apparatus, the Pentagon does not await presidential direction on major military operations. The Pentagon assesses threats, evaluates strategic priorities, and determines when military action crosses from option to necessity. The president then executes what the military establishment has already decided is required.

Christmas week was rather a slow week, with the big news being the further unraveling of the corruption in Minnesota, Washington state, California, and other Democrat redoubts. But like George Washington crossing the Delaware to beat the Hessians as they rested on Christmas, the U.S. pulled off an incredible military operation capturing Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in his pajamas and bringing him back here to answer to criminal charges. The Venezuelan military was largely on Christmas leave and Maduro’s international protectors --- the Chinese and Russian forces in Venezuela -- were caught flatfooted, diminishing their credibility in the Western Hemisphere. The...

His arrest isn’t just about Venezuela—it may be the start of something much bigger. As Iran’s protests intensify, one question is spreading fast: Is Iran next? And if the dominoes keep falling, what does that mean for China? This episode breaks down why Maduro’s capture changes the rules of global power—and why Beijing is watching Iran with growing anxiety.

After the capture and arrest of Venezuelan dictator and cartel leader Maduro, the untiring gentlemen of the Senate, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, have vowed to pass a resolution blocking any action against Venezuela. Sen. Schumer, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary’s former VP, and Sen. Rand Paul are teaming up on a resolution to try and turn back the clock. No word on whether it will ask for Maduro’s return. While Congress has a legitimate role in declaring war, this resolution is stupid and destructive to the point of being treasonous. President Trump has signaled that he’s not...

A deepening strategic partnership between China and Venezuela — marked by over 600 cooperation projects across energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and technology — signals a broader realignment in Latin America’s geopolitical landscape. Moving away from the era of large-scale loans, Beijing now favours targeted investments that strengthen its foothold without incurring the risks of financial overexposure. This shift positions Venezuela, under President Nicolas Maduro, as a key ally in China’s regional strategy, challenging longstanding US influence in the Caribbean. Venezuela is no stranger to friendly ties with China, but things are now reaching new levels. Other deals include joint ventures to...

Welcome to the final edition of Foreign Policy’s China Brief for 2025. Compared with what lies further ahead, next year may be relatively quiet for China. The following year, 2027, marks both the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s unprecedented third term and a frequently cited benchmark for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s ability to attack Taiwan. Though Beijing is keeping a lower profile amid global turbulence, there is plenty of trouble bubbling under the surface. What can we expect from China in the year ahead? Below, we offer our four best bets. A Turn on Women’s Rights China is...

The suspected terrorist charged with gunning down two Israeli embassy workers in Washington Wednesday is associated with radical socialist groups funded by the far-left Chinese sympathizer, millionaire Neville Singham and his activist wife Jodie Evans. Elias Rodriguez, 31, who allegedly confessed to killing the couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum and chanted “free, free Palestine!” was part of that network through his association with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a Communist political organization that has fielded presidential candidates since 2008. In 2018, Rodriguez also raised $240 in a GoFundMe campaign to join the March to Fight Poverty in...

Israel has taken the controversial decision to recognise the breakaway state of Somaliland as an independent nation, sparking condemnation from many other countries. China is the latest to condemn the decision, with its foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian telling reporters: "No country should encourage or support other countries' internal separatist forces for its own selfish interests." China outlined its position ahead of the UN Security Council holding an emergency session to discuss Israel's decision. Israel on Friday became the first country in the world to acknowledge Somaliland as a standalone republic, more than 30 years after the region declared independence...

https://x.com/PatrickByrne/status/2005713162750791962 Patrick Byrne@PatrickByrne·4hInside the Data Center Plot I Discussed with @EmeraldRobinsonI talked this through with Emerald: allegations link former CIA Director John Brennan (Obama era) to a Serbian Huawei-linked businessman tied to data centers in Belgrade that reportedly hosted Dominion servers. With Huawei’s CCP ties, the claim is that elections could be manipulated remotely—and that a shutdown of this site allegedly disrupted attempts to interfere in 2024.December 29, 2025

There continues to be a debate among global geopolitical analysts regarding whether the United States and China are engaged in a Cold War or a competition for global dominance.The answer is irrelevant.By anyone's observation, China seeks to dominate the 21st century, and they will do so by "any means necessary." In the process, they will use their military might to create a sphere of influence that is designed to cow nations that range from Japan to Australia to India.Their invasion of Taiwan is almost a foregone conclusion among many military observers, who believe it is not a question of if...

A Chinese influencer known as “Glacier Bro” is presumed dead after he was last seen on video losing his balance near icy waters in Tibet. Wang Xiangjun — who gained an online following by posting videos of visiting glaciers — was exploring a waterfall when he disappeared Dec. 20 in Lhari County in northern Tibet, BBC reported. Footage posted on Chinese social media platforms showed the 30-year-old slip near the base of the waterfall into the quick-flowing, frigid waters, the outlet reported. Local authorities said they launched search efforts, but haven’t been able to find him.

“The FBI will not tolerate any attempt to exploit our nation’s institutions for illegal activity—as we have seen in this case and the three Chinese nationals charged in Michigan in November for allegedly smuggling biological materials into the U.S. on several occasions,” Patel added