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64 US Bank Branches File To Shut Down In A Single Week; Are You Affected?
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,
Big banks such as PNC Bank and JPMorgan Chase have filed to close several branch offices in multiple states amid a troubling pattern of rising branch shutdowns in recent years.
Between Nov. 12 and 18, several banks filed to close branch locations, with PNC Bank with the most filings, according to data from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank filed for 19 branch closures—five in Pennsylvania, four in Illinois, three in Texas, two each in Alabama and New Jersey, and one each in Indiana, Ohio, and Florida.
JPMorgan Chase followed closely with 18 filings—three in Ohio, two each in Connecticut and South Carolina, and one each in 11 states, including New York, Illinois, Florida, and Massachusetts.
Citizens Bank came in third with eight branch closure filings—six in New York, and one each in Massachusetts and Delaware. Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank filed for seven closures—three in Tennessee and one each in Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois.
Bank of America made five filings—two in New York and one each in Texas, Massachusetts, and California.
Citibank filed for two branch closures, and Sterling, Bremer, First National Bank of Hughes Springs, Windsor FS&LA, and Aroostook County FS&LA made one filing each.
Altogether, banks filed to shut down 64 branches.
The recent closures are part of a long-term branch shutdown trend that has been ongoing over the past several years. A report from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition shows that between 2017 and 2021, 9 percent of all bank branches shut down. The closure rate doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from S&P, there were 3,012 branch closures last year and 958 branch openings, leading to a net closure of 2,054 branches. This was the third consecutive year that net closings exceeded 2,000.
-Tyler Durden, Zerohedge
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NEW: Biden Forced To Apologize For Insensitive Comments
President Joe Biden is “disappointed” in himself after questioning the number of deaths in Gaza being reported by Hamas, so much so that he backtracked on earlier statements during a recent meeting with pro-Palestinian advocates.
The president’s meeting came one day after his October 25th press conference where he said he believed Hamas was being untruthful in its estimations of civilians killed during the ongoing war with Israel.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed,” Biden said according to Fox News. “I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s a price of waging war.”
The next day, Biden sat down with five Muslim American leaders who urged him to have greater empathy for the people of Gaza. They spoke about families, relatives, and individuals lost during the conflict, causing Biden to express regret for his earlier comments.
“I’m sorry. I’m disappointed in myself,” Biden told the group, according to the Washington Post.
Following the meeting, President Biden issued a round of hugs to the Muslim American leaders.
According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 Palestinians have died since the October 7th attack that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and left scores of others as hostages. A fragile four-day pause in fighting which began last week has resulted in at least three rounds of hostages being released, though the breakthrough has required Israel to release some well-known Palestinian agitators including one woman who attempted to conduct a suicide bombing in 2015.
President Biden has largely supported Israel’s mission to root out Hamas terrorists in Gaza though has come under increasing pressure within his own party to call for a ceasefire and apply greater pressure to Israel to reduce civilian casualties. A number of high-profile Palestinian advocates in Congress, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MN) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), have gone so far as to refuse to denounce Hamas’s initial attack or repeated antisemitic phrases with a call for the elimination of Israel. Tlaib was censured by Congress earlier this week for some of her past remarks, but that hasn’t stopped her from threatening to withhold her support for Biden’s reelection.
-Mark Steffen, Trending Politics
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How The Democratic Party Faked An American Insurrection
Last week, more than 40,000 hours of Jan. 6 Capitol Police security footage was released in the public domain that once and for all blew a hole in the pro-Trump ‘violent insurrection’ narrative so dear to the Democrats.
The one question on countless Americans’ minds following the release of the damning videos was: will all those men and women recently locked away as political prisoners for dozens of decades get another day in court?
Indeed, January 6 may have been a lot of things to many people, but another Boston Tea Party it most definitely was not.
Social media was alight over the weekend showing one benign scene after another of the ‘insurrectionists’ casually strolling through the Capitol Building premises, exchanging pleasantries with the on-duty police officers, even giving each other fist-bumps.
The revelations of the true nature of the event came to light as newly appointed House Speaker Mike Johnson released the security footage, which came as a political manna from heaven for former president Donald Trump and other members of the Republican Party.
“Truth and transparency are critical,” Johnson said in a prepared statement.
“This decision will provide millions of Americans, criminal defendants, public interest organizations, and the media an ability to see for themselves what happened that day, rather than having to rely upon the interpretation of a small group of government officials.”
Democrats, however, who have milked the ‘insurrectionist’ narrative for everything it is worth, predictably chafed at the release, calling it a ‘risk to national security.’
-Tyler Durden, Zerohedge
Derek Chauvin Stabbed In Federal Prison
According to an Associated Press story, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who entered a guilty plea to federal charges in the 2020 death of 46-year-old George Floyd while under his custody, was stabbed and critically injured by another prisoner on Friday. Chauvin, 47, is currently serving concurrent terms of more than 20 years on both federal and state offenses after being found guilty on state charges in Minnesota as well.
A look at George Floyd’s profile as per court documents reads like a career criminal involved in drug abuse, theft, criminal trespassing, and aggravated robbery as well as entering a woman’s home and pointing a gun at her stomach while looking for drugs and money.
Chauvin is in stable condition, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who spoke with CNN (excerpt):
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, WHICH PROSECUTED CHAUVIN IN THE FLOYD CASE, SAID EARLY SATURDAY THAT IT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ASSAULT AND TOLD CHAUVIN IS IN STABLE CONDITION.
“I AM SAD TO HEAR THAT DEREK CHAUVIN WAS THE TARGET OF VIOLENCE,” ELLISON SAID, ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT PROVIDED TO CNN. “HE WAS DULY CONVICTED OF HIS CRIMES AND, LIKE ANY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE HIS SENTENCE WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION OR VIOLENCE.”
The initial story on Chauvin’s stabbing came from Mike Sisak of the AP:
BREAKING: DEREK CHAUVIN, THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED OF MURDERING GEORGE FLOYD, WAS STABBED BY ANOTHER INMATE AND SERIOUSLY INJURED FRIDAY AT A FEDERAL PRISON IN ARIZONA, A PERSON FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER TOLD AP.
-Great Game India
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Trump Lawyers File Motion for Discovery in Jack Smith Case Demanding Documents Regarding Informants and Undercover Agents Related to Jan 6
Trump’s attorneys filed a motion for discovery in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case demanding documents regarding informants and undercover agents related to January 6.
“Please provide all documents regarding informants, cooperators, undercover agents, representatives, or anyone acting in a similar capacity on behalf of or at the behest of the Department of Justice or any law enforcement agency…who was present at or within five miles of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in the 9-page discovery letter.
Trump’s trial date for Jack Smith’s January 6 case is currently scheduled for March 4, 2024 (election interference).
Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump could backfire if Trump’s team gets some of the documents in its discovery request.
Trump’s attorneys said in last week’s motion: “We have found many redacted documents in the discovery production.”
The Gateway Pundit has reported numerous times on suspected federal agents (Ray Epps?) who infiltrated the January 6 crowd.
Michael Waller, a senior analyst for strategy at the Center for Security Policy specializing in propaganda, political warfare, psychological warfare, and subversion, said he was at the Capitol on January 6 and witnessed:
-Cristina Laila, The Gateway Pundit
‘NOT WAITING’: Trump Reveals Plans To Defend Americans With 1795 Law
Former President Donald J. Trump has told the American people for nearly six months that he was kept from utilizing the U.S. military to clamp down on the destructive BLM riots of Summer 2020 by forces inside his own government. During an Iowa rally in March, however, he told audiences “The next time, I’m not waiting.”
According to The Associated Press, Trump assessed his own hometown New York City, and Chicago, as “crime dens.”
“You look at these great cities Los Angeles, San Francisco you look at what’s happening to our country… We cannot let it happen any longer. And one of the other things I’ll do.. Because you know you’re supposed to not be involved in that you just have to be asked by the governor or the mayor to come in…
The next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it, and we’re going to show how bad a job they do,” he added.
“Well, we did that. We don’t have to wait any longer. We’ve got to get crime out of our cities.”
While Trump was non-specific as to how he would intervene, the AP, examining his remarks six months later speculated, about the possibility he might deploy the U.S. military. They wrote, “Trump has not spelled out precisely how he might use the military during a second term, although he and his advisers have suggested they would have wide latitude to call up units.”
The outlet went on to characterize the 2024 Republican frontrunner’s agenda as “aggressive,” citing his intent to launch mass deportations of illegal immigrants and his willingness to restore discretionary travel bans from nations destabilized by radical Islamist terrorism.
-Matthew Holloway, Trending Politics
Iran-backed Houthis fire on US Navy ship answering distress call from Israel-linked tanker
WASHINGTON — Iran-backed forces in Yemen fired two ballistic missiles at a US warship early Monday after the Navy responded to a distress call from an Israel-linked commercial tanker that had been seized by Somali pirates, the Pentagon said.
The commercial tanker, known as the Central Park, issued a distress call late Sunday stating its crew was “under attack by an unknown entity” after five gunmen boarded the vessel in the Gulf of Aden, according to a US Central Command statement.
The USS Mason guided-missile destroyer responded to the call, along with an accompanying US helicopter gunship and a Japanese destroyer, while Central Park crew members sealed themself inside the ship’s Citadel safe room.
“Upon arrival, coalition elements demanded release of the vessel,” CENTCOM said in its statement. “Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat.”
The Mason pursued the attackers — later discovered to be Somali pirates — as they made their way back to the shores of Yemen. There, the five individuals surrendered and Navy personnel arrested them, taking them in for questioning under counter-piracy authorities.
But as the Mason was “concluding its response,” Houthi militants in Yemen shot two ballistic missiles at the Mason at 1:41 a.m. Monday, according to CENTCOM. The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden roughly 10 nautical miles from the ships. No one was injured in the blasts.
The Central Park’s crew was safe following the incident. The ship was operating under the management of Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.
The US and Japanese ships were not the only vessels in the region that could have responded to the Central Park’s call for help. Three Chinese navy ships in the vessel’s vicinity chose to ignore the 59 distress calls from the Israel-linked ship, Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said.
-Caitlin Doornbos, New York Post
BRICS nations may call for Israel to officially be labeled a “terrorist” state
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is calling on all BRICS member nations – there are now 11 of them – to officially designate the Israeli government and its military apparatus as terrorist organizations.
Citing alleged war crimes in Gaza, Raisi submitted a request to the group's online Extraordinary Joint Meeting on the Middle East Situation in Gaza, asking everyone involved to use their influence to break Israel's "siege" of Gaza and insure that humanitarian aid can be safely delivered to embattled Palestinian civilians.
"It is necessary that this fake regime be recognized as a terrorist regime and its army be regarded as a terrorist organization," Raisi said, adding that all BRICS members need to recognize that the Palestinian state has a right to self-defense while cutting all ties with West Jerusalem.
"With regards to the constant crimes [committed] by and the racist nature of the fake Israeli regime, free nations [of the world] expect all governments, especially BRICS members, to immediately put the issue of the severance of political, economic and military ties with the regime high on the agenda," he added.
BRICS to open inquiry into Israel's alleged illegal use of white phosphorus, other banned weapons
With the support of South Africa, a prominent BRICS member, Iran, Raisi added, has filed along with four other countries in the International Criminal Court (ICC) the launch of an investigation into Israel's alleged war crimes in Gaza.
These war crimes include allegations that Israel has been using white phosphorus and other illegal weaponry on the Palestinians in violation of international law. The filing also seeks to hold the United States responsible for Israel's murder of children in Gaza.
-Ethan Huff, News Target
Two-Day Extension Agreed for Israel-Hamas Truce in Gaza; 11 more hostages freed
A truce between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza has been extended by two days, as confirmed by mediator Qatar, continuing the pause in seven weeks of conflict.
Qatar, acting as a mediator, announced on Monday that the truce between Israeli and Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip has been extended by an additional two days. This extension prolongs a ceasefire that has temporarily halted seven weeks of intense conflict, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and significant destruction in Gaza.The Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed the extension through a statement on the social media platform X. While there was no immediate response from Israel, a White House official acknowledged that an agreement on the extension had been reached.
Hamas also confirmed its agreement to the two-day truce extension, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt. These nations have been key in conducting indirect negotiations between the conflicting parties.
According to a Hamas official, the terms of the extended truce will mirror those of the previous ceasefire. The specifics of the agreement, including the number of hostages to be released, were not detailed in the announcements. However, Egypt’s State Information Service head, Diaa Rashwan, had earlier indicated that the deal under negotiation would involve the release of 20 Israeli hostages by Hamas in exchange for 60 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The initial four-day truce, which was set to expire on Monday night, marked the first cessation of hostilities since the conflict began seven weeks ago. The clashes commenced with a Hamas attack on Israel, leading to retaliatory actions by Israel in Gaza. The violence has resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and 14,800 Palestinians, with hundreds of thousands displaced.
Under the truce, humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza, addressing the critical shortage of food, fuel, drinking water, and medicine. As part of the truce’s terms, Hamas began releasing hostages, including a 4-year-old Israeli-American girl. To date, Hamas has released 58 individuals, including foreigners, while Israel has released 39 Palestinian teenagers, totaling 117 freed under the truce.
The ongoing negotiations aim to finalize the release of additional hostages, with expectations set for the release of 11 Israeli hostages and discussions continuing for 33 Palestinians.
On Monday, the Israeli military said 11 Israeli hostages – the latest to be freed under the terms of the original truce that was due to end on Monday – had arrived in Israel.
Qatar said the newly released hostages, all dual citizens, included three with French nationality, two with German nationality and six Argentine citizens.
Hamas said earlier it had received a list of 33 Palestinians to be released from Israeli jails in return. It said these included three female prisoners and 30 minors.
With the latest releases, Hamas has freed a total of 69 people since Friday, including both Israelis and non-Israelis.
-yourNEWS
Breaking: First American Hostage Released By Hamas — Is RELATED To Hunter Biden Art Buyer!
An American hostage has finally been released by Palestinian militant group Hamas — and she’s related to a buyer of Hunter Biden’s art, according to reports.
Good Lord.
After weeks of no diplomatic developments by the Biden regime and the release of several batches of non-U.S. hostages by Hamas, a 4-year-old Israeli-American female named Abigail Mor Edan was reportedly among the latest group of 17 hostages released by Hamas on Sunday.
Here’s the kicker: That 4-year-old hostage’s great aunt, named Elizabeth Hirsch Naftali, reportedly purchased art from Hunter Biden.
At some point Naftali, a prolific Democrat donor, was also appointed by Joe Biden to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.
It’s unclear if she bought Hunter’s artwork before or after she was appointed to that board.
The 4-year-old’s release was a particular focus for the Biden regime, according to MSNBC.
-Jamie White, Infowars
James Woods loses mind on Twitter, calls for mass killing and total genocide of all Palestinians with #KillThemAll hashtag
American actor James Woods had a meltdown on social media this week in response to an image of Palestinian supporters demonstrating against Israel.
The tweet below depicts five Middle Eastern-looking men holding the flag of Palestine, with one mock-stepping on a puppy draped in a small Israeli flag. This image triggered Woods to the point that he called for total destruction of the Gaza Strip.
"No ceasefire," Woods, a conservative, tweeted in response to the photo. "No compromise. No forgiveness. #KillThemAll."
It is the #KillThemAll part of Woods' tweet that suggests he supports a complete and total genocide of Gaza, which prior to the war, was home to around 2.2 million Palestinian people.
James Woods tweet visibility "limited" for violating rules against "Violent Speech"
The tweet by Woods seemingly calling for the complete annihilation of Gaza had its visibility "limited" by the X (formerly Twitter) platform because its contents "may violate X's rules against Violent Speech."
To be fair, the tweet Woods is criticizing also seemingly supports violence by depicting men in support of Palestine mock-kicking a small animal meant to represent Israel.
-Ethan Huff, Natural News
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Pfizer Files Lawsuit Against Poland for Declining COVID-19 Vaccines
Pfizer has filed a lawsuit against the Polish government for missing payments for over 60 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The pharmaceutical giant filed the lawsuit after Poland allegedly could not fulfill its contract for COVID-19 vaccines.
Poland was locked into buying excess vaccines after the European Commission had Poland sign a controversial contract in 2021.
In total, Pfizer is seeking $1.5 billion in compensation for 60 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine Poland declined.
In 2022, the Polish Health Minister at the time, Adam Niedzielski, declared the country had stopped taking vaccine deliveries from Pfizer.
He said Poland initiated a force majeure clause in the contract, claiming Poland was not financially capable of honoring the contract due to an increase of refugees from the Ukraine war.
Per Politico:
U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is taking the Polish government to court over missing payments for 60 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine it developed with BioNTech.
he lawsuit, which comes as Poland prepares for a change in government following its October election, marks the culmination of a 19-month struggle between Warsaw and Pfizer over a glut of vaccine doses.
But the roots of the clash can be traced back further: to the enormous 1.1 billion-dose contract the European Commission signed with Pfizer in 2021, which has become controversial for the reported exchange of text messages between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in the run-up to negotiations.
“Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking to hold Poland to its commitments for COVID-19 vaccine orders placed by the Polish Government, as part of their contract to supply the European Union signed in May 2021,” a spokesperson for Pfizer told POLITICO, adding that BioNTech is also joining the proceedings.
As Pfizer is suing Poland for compensation, those injured by mRNA in vaccines are now fighting back.
-Anthony Scott, The Gateway Pundit
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A new COVID variant, HV.1, is now dominant. These are its most common symptoms
A new COVID-19 variant called HV.1 has become the dominant strain in the United States and now accounts for nearly one-third of cases nationwide.
The highly infectious omicron subvariant has been circulating in the U.S. since the summer. In October, HV.1 rapidly gained speed and overtook other variants, including EG.5, aka Eris, to become the most prevalent strain, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During a two-week period ending on Nov. 11, HV.1 accounted for 29% of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S., per the CDC. After HV.1, the next most common variant was EG.5, which made up about 22% of cases, followed by FL.1.5.1 or “Fornax,” and XBB.1.16 or “Arcturus.” Unlike its predecessors, HV.1 has yet to gain a catchy nickname.
All of the COVID-19 variants that have become dominant in the U.S. over the last year are descendants of omicron, which began circulating in November 2021.
The emergence of HV.1 demonstrates how the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is able to mutate and give rise to new, highly contagious variants.
HV.1's reign comes as the U.S. enters the thick of respiratory virus season and health officials roll out updated COVID-19 vaccines. While the new booster still offers protection against newer variants, very few Americans have gotten the shot so far, TODAY.com previously reported.
Right now, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations seem to be trending downward following a late summer surge, per CDC data. However, infections are expected to increase again this winter as was the case the past three winter seasons, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.
As HV.1 continues to spread, many are curious if the new variant is more contagious or severe than previous strains, whether it's causing different symptoms, and when they should get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what we know about HV.1 so far.
-Caroline Kee, Today News
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Poland Doesn’t Buy Enough Vaccines, Gets Sued for $1.5 Billion
Since the outbreak of a particular illness, a particular company making the all-hailed prevention earned more than $88 billion dollars on that product.
This company forced countries to sign purchase agreements, and even more interesting, the European Union signed contracts for individual countries that had no say in the contents of those “agreements.”
One such country was Poland. But after the war in Ukraine started, Poland’s finances were diverted to help Ukraine – which wasn’t exactly planned. So, last year Poland invoked the force majeure clause. It’s a legal term for unforeseeable circumstances that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract, such as war.
What does the company do? They wait until war talk settles down AND Poland gets a new administration … and then they file a $1.5 BILLION lawsuit against Poland for breach of contract … a contract Poland had no say in. Cuz apparently, $88 Billion wasn’t enough to tie them over until the next bug comes on the scene.
-Daniel Bobinski
The Global Risks Report 2020
Published: 15 January 2020
The 15th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report is published as critical risks are manifesting. The global economy is facing an increased risk of stagnation, climate change is striking harder and more rapidly than expected, and fragmented cyberspace threatens the full potential of next-generation technologies — all while citizens worldwide protest political and economic conditions and voice concerns about systems that exacerbate inequality. The challenges before us demand immediate collective action, but fractures within the global community appear to only be widening. Stakeholders need to act quickly and with purpose within an unsettled global landscape.
-World Economic Forum
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