Latest news with #CIA
Wall Street Journal
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Mysteries: ‘Pariah' by Dan Fesperman
Hal Knight, a 47-year-old comedian-turned-congressman, is the title character in Dan Fesperman's 13th novel, 'Pariah.' In the wake of a #MeToo-era scandal over his behavior on a film set, Hal is out of politics and the entertainment world. He's been dropped by his fiancée and is no longer welcome in polite U.S. society. In disgrace, Hal makes his way alone to a small Caribbean island where he hopes to hide in isolation while pondering 'Plan Z': downing the poison pills concealed in his luggage. 'Fast-acting, mostly painless.' But two unexpected things occur: The despotic president of the Eastern European nation of Bolrovia (an avowed fan of Hal's comedy) invites him for an all-expenses-paid visit and celebratory banquet-concert; and three mysterious Americans (two men and their female supervisor) drop by Hal's hotel to suggest he accept that invite—for his good, their good and the good of his country. Who are they? 'Anyone who says he's CIA is almost certainly an imposter,' the former congressman figures. 'Only someone who cagily avoids mentioning CIA can really be an Agency employee.' Hal says yes to both offers. He's grateful for the career attention (though wary of being perceived as the 'court jester of a wannabe dictator') and hopes maybe he can now do something worthwhile to make amends for his past mistakes and misdeeds. Mr. Fesperman, a former foreign correspondent as well as a veteran fiction writer, handles the absurdist elements of his plot with a light touch appropriate to the travails of (in Hal's mocking words) 'the Jerry Lewis of Bolrovia.' Yet the laughter takes a back seat to some real peril once things go awry and Hal starts improvising an unpredictable script. 'Pariah' is a most unusual and entertaining espionage caper, one in which the protagonist's serious flaws at last yield to the redeeming qualities of his better angels.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Did Vladimir Putin prefer Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump in 2016? Declassified intelligence report makes startling claim
In a twist to the long-running Russiagate saga, newly declassified intelligence documents suggest that the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) may have misrepresented Russian President Vladimir Putin 's true preferences in the 2016 US election. Contrary to the widely accepted narrative that Russia aimed to boost Donald Trump 's chances, the reports show that key intelligence indicators suggesting Putin may have preferred Hillary Clinton were ignored or dismissed. The ICA's failure to explore alternative hypotheses has been called a "serious tradecraft mistake" with high-impact consequences, influencing top US government decisions across three branches. These revelations are shifting the focus of Russiagate from alleged collusion with Trump to overlooked intelligence about Clinton. Declassified reports: CIA ignored signs Putin may have wanted Clinton to win According to Finding #7 from the declassified oversight report, the ICA failed to perform a systematic evaluation of alternative explanations, a core requirement of intelligence tradecraft under ICD 203. Specifically, it dismissed the possibility that Putin did not care who won, or even had strategic reasons to prefer a Clinton presidency. The overlooked evidence suggests that: Putin might have viewed Clinton as a more vulnerable and predictable adversary, potentially easier to manipulate diplomatically. Russia held back more damaging kompromat on Clinton, suggesting a calculated move to retain leverage over a future Clinton administration, leverage that would not exist with Trump. The ICA authors' insistence on a 'single-track hypothesis' led them to ignore contrary intelligence and attempt to shape weak evidence to support the conclusion that Putin favored Trump. A 'high-impact' intelligence failure with political consequences The report criticizes the ICA's methodology, especially given its massive influence. The document was disseminated across 250 US officials, including members of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, and heavily influenced public opinion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Understand The Importance Of Steam-Based Sterilization contentcuehub Search Now Undo Analysts argue that the ICA's failure to account for alternative theories misled US policymakers at a critical time. Furthermore: The ICA's narrow focus fueled years of partisan conflict and undermined public trust in democratic institutions. The claim that Putin 'aspired' to help Trump may have lacked solid grounding, while stronger evidence pointing to Clinton as the real strategic choice was sidelined. Intelligence insiders now admit the ICA 'glossed over' the possibility that Putin withheld pre-election operations for future use, particularly against Clinton. Revisiting the narrative, reconsidering the truth The recent declassification of intelligence documents has cast new light on the origins and direction of the Russiagate narrative. While Donald Trump faced years of scrutiny over alleged Russian ties, including investigations, public doubt, and political fallout, it now appears that some intelligence suggesting Vladimir Putin may have preferred Hillary Clinton was known but not given equal attention. If true, this raises difficult questions about the role of selective disclosure and political influence within intelligence channels. For Trump and his supporters, this serves as vindication, not just from the false collusion accusations, but from a broader establishment effort to delegitimize his presidency before it even began. The fact that this evidence was hidden until now suggests institutional bias at the highest levels. As the US enters another election cycle, the importance of transparency and trust in democratic institutions becomes even more urgent. Both sides of the political divide can agree that the public deserves a full accounting, not just of what happened, but of who decided what the American people were allowed to know.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Prosecute him…': Gabbard reveals stunning details of Obama's role in 2016 election 'Russia hoax' - The Economic Times Video
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs the media on the 2016 election 'Russia hoax'. DNI Tulsi Gabbard escalated her claims against the Obama-era Intelligence leadership, alleging they orchestrated a conspiracy to delegitimise Donald Trump's 2016 victory. In her new report, Gabbard directly names former President Barack Obama, ex-FBI Director James Comey, DNI James Clapper, and CIA Director John Brennan.
Business Upturn
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Is ‘Jack Ryan' returning for season 5? Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on July 24, 2025, 17:30 IST Last updated July 24, 2025, 10:35 IST If you're anything like us, you've probably been glued to your screen watching John Krasinski bring Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan to life on Amazon Prime Video. The pulse-pounding action, clever spy games, and Krasinski's charm as the CIA analyst-turned-hero have kept us hooked for four incredible seasons. But after that intense Season 4 finale, the big question on everyone's mind is: Is Jack Ryan Season 5 happening? Let's dive into everything we know so far. Is Jack Ryan Season 5 happening? Let's get the tough news out of the way: Jack Ryan Season 5 isn't in the works. When the show started, John Krasinski and the creative team planned for a four-season journey, and they stuck to that vision. Season 4, which dropped its final episodes in July 2023, was designed to wrap up Jack's story. Krasinski himself has said in interviews that they wanted to go out on a high note, giving fans a complete arc that stayed true to the character and his world. Season 4 was a wild ride, with Jack stepping up as the CIA's acting deputy director and taking on a conspiracy involving a drug cartel and a terrorist group. It earned rave reviews, scoring an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes—higher than any other season. The finale tied up the main plot, but it left some of us craving more of Jack's adventures. Still, the showrunners have been clear: four seasons was always the plan, and they're proud of how it ended. A Jack Ryan Movie Is Coming! Here's where things get exciting. While we won't get a Jack Ryan Season 5, a feature film is in the works, and it's shaping up to be a big deal. Announced earlier this year in February 2025, the movie will bring back John Krasinski as Jack Ryan, alongside Wendell Pierce as the ever-reliable James Greer. From what we've heard, the film picks up after Season 4, continuing the story from the Prime Video series while pulling inspiration from Tom Clancy's novels. The movie's got some heavy hitters behind it. Aaron Rabin, who wrote for Season 4, is penning the script, and Andrew Bernstein, the director behind Season 2's best episodes, is at the helm. Set photos have teased high-stakes action, with hints that Jack might be dealing with legal trouble or a new global threat. For fans like me who felt Season 4's ending left a few loose ends (what's next for Jack and Cathy?), this movie feels like the 'Season 5' we've been hoping for, just on the big screen. No release date has been confirmed yet, but the buzz is strong. There's even talk that Betty Gabriel could return as Elizabeth Wright, though nothing's set in stone. If you loved the show's mix of espionage, fistfights, and moral dilemmas, this film sounds like it'll deliver more of the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
See - Sada Elbalad
4 hours ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Macrons Sue US Influencer Candace Owens over Defamation Claims
Israa Farhan French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have launched a defamation lawsuit in the United States against prominent social media personality Candace Owens. The legal action, filed on Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, accuses Owens of disseminating baseless and defamatory claims to millions of online followers. The 218-page complaint alleges that Owens, through her YouTube and podcast series titled 'Becoming Brigitte,' made a series of demonstrably false assertions. These include claims that Brigitte Macron was born male and that she and Emmanuel Macron are biologically related. Owens further suggested that Macron's rise to the presidency was orchestrated by a CIA mind-control program. The Macrons are seeking a jury trial and unspecified punitive damages. In a statement issued through their legal team, they condemned the campaign of misinformation as a deliberate effort to inflict emotional distress and gain personal notoriety. The complaint highlights a sustained online campaign that has contributed to international harassment and reputational harm. It notes that Owens amplified previously debunked rumours that began circulating in 2021, which have since appeared on other conservative platforms hosted by figures such as Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan. The filing states Owens systematically distorted details of the Macrons' personal lives, transforming them into a narrative designed to provoke controversy and abuse. The document describes the result as 'relentless bullying on a worldwide scale'. The lawsuit portrays Owens as a provocateur who leverages misinformation under the guise of investigative journalism to build her brand. It criticizes her for rejecting calls to retract her claims, thus intensifying the damage. A spokesperson for Owens responded by accusing the French president and his wife of attempting to suppress free speech, framing the legal action as a foreign attack on the First Amendment rights of an American citizen. The statement claimed Owens had sought an interview with Brigitte Macron, which was declined, and characterized the lawsuit as an attempt to intimidate rather than engage. Brigitte Macron has previously taken legal steps in France to counter similar gender-based misinformation. Two women were initially convicted in 2023 for spreading false claims that she was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, her actual brother. Although that ruling was overturned by a Paris appeals court, Brigitte recently appealed the decision to France's Court of Cassation. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
