Gazprom reported a staggering net loss of 1.076 trillion rubles ($13.1 billion) in 2024, primarily due to the loss of the European market following the Ukraine invasion. This represents a significant decline from its 2023 loss of 629 billion rubles ($7.6 billion), despite a slight revenue increase. Contributing factors include decreased gas exports to the EU, falling subsidiary share prices, and increased tax burdens. The company is responding to its financial crisis with cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions.
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The State Department ended a USAID initiative funding Ukraine’s energy grid restoration, jeopardizing the grid’s resilience against Russian attacks, especially during winter. This decision, coupled with a drastic reduction of USAID personnel in Ukraine, significantly diminishes the U.S.’s ability to monitor aid disbursement and negotiate a ceasefire. The move also signals reduced U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s economic stability, a key target of Russia’s war effort. The termination of the Ukraine Energy Security Project and a financial sector reform program leaves Ukraine vulnerable on multiple fronts.
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Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary ever, faced online accusations of stating that “Jesus Christ didn’t have electricity” during a press conference addressing potential Canadian energy cutoffs to the U.S. This claim, widely spread on X and TikTok, followed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement that all options were on the table regarding retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs. The allegation prompted a surge in Google searches for the phrase and subsequent retractions on TikTok. Leavitt also recently faced criticism for interrupting a CNN interview to attack Jake Tapper, leading to the interview’s abrupt termination.
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John Q. Hosedrinker