Volatile..

 

Bro..

 

Gas..

Germany's imports of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) via other EU countries continue to rise despite restrictions on direct shipments, the Financial Times wrote on Jan. 28, citing a report by Belgian, German, and Ukrainian NGOs.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe began to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels to avoid financing the Kremlin’s war chest. Despite these efforts, Europe's imports of Russian LNG, which is largely not subject to sanctions, have soared to record levels in 2024.

Germany’s national energy company Sefe bought 58 cargoes of Russian LNG from the French port of Dunkirk in 2024, six times more than in 2023, according to the report.

Sefe was owned by Russia’s Gazprom until the former’s forced nationalization in 2022 and has a contract with Russia’s Russia’s Yamal LNG, owned by Russia's largest LNG producer and the country's second-largest natural gas producer, Novatek.

Deceit..

 

Donald Trump sued CBS for its “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris days before his Election Day victory. Now, CBS' parent company Paramount is in talks to settle, according to the New York Times . 

If it does settle, that would make it the third mega media company to do so in a matter of months.

During her presidential run, Kamala Harris sat for an interview with “60 Minutes” that aired in October on CBS. It was not a live broadcast. Then, her rival Donald Trump sued CBS for $10 billion in damages, accusing it of deceitful editing. CBS and “60 Minutes” said the claims were false. That was before Trump won the election and returned to the White House.  

Now, CBS’s parent company Paramount is reportedly in talks to settle with Trump, according to the New York Times.

Solved..

Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the company after it suspended his accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to three people familiar with the matter. 

It’s the latest instance of a large corporation settling litigation with the president, and comes as Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, have joined other large technology companies in trying to ingratiate themselves with the new Trump administration.

Two people said that terms of the agreement include $22 million going to the nonprofit that will become Trump’s future presidential library and the balance going to legal fees and other litigants. 

Zuckerberg visited Trump in November at his private Florida club. At the dinner, Trump brought up the litigation and suggested they try to resolve it, kickstarting two months of negotiations between the parties, the people said.

Glymphatic...

 

Getting a good night's sleep is a critical part of our daily biological cycle and is associated with improved brain function, a stronger immune system, and a healthier heart. 

Conversely, sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea can significantly impact health and quality of life. Poor sleep often precedes the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and is a predictor of early dementia.

As the brain transitions from wakefulness to sleep, processing of external information diminishes while processes such as glymphatic removal of waste products are activated," said Maiken Nedergaard, MD, DMSc, co-director of the University of Rochester Center for Translational Neuromedicine and lead author of the study.

The study holds a warning for people who use the commonly prescribed sleep aid zolpidem. The drug suppressed the glymphatic system, potentially setting the stage for neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, which are the result of the toxic accumulation of proteins in the brain.

Falling apart..

 

For the second time in a month, a newly formed Ukrainian army brigade is disintegrating as it deploys to the front line in one of the most urgent sectors of Russia’s 35-month wider war on Ukraine.

This newly formed brigade did not undergo the necessary combat training,” one relative of a 157th Mechanized Brigade trooper told Hromadske, “but it was immediately sent to the hottest areas” including the besieged fortress city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.

 Defending it is one of Ukraine’s top objectives. Given its importance, it’s shocking to many observers that the Ukrainian army keeps reinforcing the city with dysfunctional units, including the 155th and 157th Mechanized Brigades.

Both units began falling apart before they even arrived in Pokrovsk.

Dragon..

In the Dragon Chinese Horoscope 2025, love life will be highlighted by Dragons' magnetism, drawing others towards them with heightened honor and respect. Partners will be captivated by their aura, fostering mutual desires to strengthen relationships and potentially plan for a family. 

Single Dragons will find ample opportunities for romantic connections, promising an unforgettable year in matters of the heart. 

Married life will see Dragons balancing formality with flexibility, nurturing harmonious relationships, and enjoying newfound social interactions. Health-wise, Dragons are urged to prioritize fitness and diet for vitality throughout the year.

The Dragon Horoscope 2025, career prospects suggest a mixed landscape, with potential stresses in professional sectors but opportunities for growth in business and social circles. Financially, Dragons can anticipate prosperity with advancements in ventures and potential gains from government affiliations and real estate, contributing to a year of substantial personal and economic growth.

Drop..

 

President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is weighing whether to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in his bribery case, according to reports. FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay has the latest.

Omnipresent..

 

Politico's White House reporters wrote on Saturday about the stark contrast between the "invisible" and "shielded" former President Biden and the "omnipresent" President Donald Trump.

Since Trump’s inauguration last week, White House correspondent Eli Stokols and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns reported how Trump has given multiple speeches, made several policy announcements and has spoken to reporters at length.  

Trump’s huge media presence is a change compared to the more muted Biden years.

"Yes, Trump was eager to sign all those executive orders reversing Biden’s policies," they wrote. "But the bigger flex for Trump, 78, was to contrast his accessibility, aptitude and activity with his predecessor, who was so often shielded from public view by aides wary of showcasing the 82-year-old’s growing limitations."