The UK's relationship with the EU is shaping up as a key issue for a possible Labour leadership contest and the coming by-election in the Makerfield. Continue Reading »

Discontent with the political class is greater than ever - has the UK become ungovernable? Continue Reading »

Bulgarian singer Dara is a surprise winner beating Israel in second place, while the UK's Look Mum No Computer gets just one point. Continue Reading »

After four years of flops, the BBC has to think hard about how it approaches Eurovision in 2027. Continue Reading »

Serious clashes between Unite the Kingdom and pro-Palestinian protesters were avoided on Saturday. Continue Reading »

With inflation spiking and Treasury yields surging, Warsh is likely to confront a Federal Open Market Committee in no mood to ease. Continue Reading »

U.S. President Donald Trump had said arms sales to Taiwan would be on the agenda for his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping which ended Friday. Continue Reading »

Trump bought shares of Amazon, Meta, Oracle, Broadcom, Motorola and Dell worth millions, new ethics disclosure filings show. Continue Reading »

President Donald Trump has been considered the ultimate stock market president, overseeing an expansion to record highs as well as major declines. Continue Reading »

The world's oil stockpiles could approach all-time lows by the end of May due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, according to UBS. Continue Reading »

Par AFP © 2026 AFP La marque italienne Gucci s'est offert samedi soir rien moins que la place la plus emblématique de New York, Times Square, pour le deuxième défilé de son nouveau directeur artistique, Demna Gvasalia.Les mannequins ont défilé sur un large podium installé au sol de cette portion de Manhattan encadrée par la 7e avenue et Broadway, tandis que les immenses panneaux publicitaires qui font la notoriété du quartier retransmettaient les images.Outre les invités, séparés du reste de la rue par de grands panneaux noirs, de nombreux badauds et touristes ont donc pu profiter du show en direct depuis la chaussée. Cette collection croisière - organisée en dehors des calendriers officiels des défilés - est la deuxième présentée par le Géorgien Demna Gvasalia, arrivé en 2025 pour tenter de redorer le blason d'une maison frappée par un net décrochage des ventes depuis trois ans.Comme lors de son premier défilé à Milan en février dernier, il a insisté sur le sexy et le glamour qui ont fait le succès de la marque : des matières satinées, brillantes, du ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP Par Javier TOVAR © 2026 AFP Expulsé samedi vers les Etats-Unis, Alex Saab, Colombien d'origine libanaise, jadis homme-clé du pouvoir au Venezuela et proche du président déchu Nicolas Maduro, est devenu un des enjeux récurrents des relations entre les deux pays. Ministre sous Maduro, il a été mis à l'écart par la présidente par intérim Delcy Rodriguez, arrivée au pouvoir après la capture de Maduro le 3 janvier par l'armée américaine. Considéré comme un intermédiaire-clé du chavisme à l'international, Alex Saab avait été arrêté en 2020 au Cap-Vert puis extradé aux Etats-Unis, dont les autorités l'accusaient d'avoir mis en place un système de détournement d'aide alimentaire au profit de M. Maduro et de son gouvernement. Il avait été échangé contre des prisonniers américains en décembre 2023.Pour ses détracteurs, il est l'homme de paille affairiste de Maduro. Ses soutiens voient au contraire en lui un serviteur dévoué du chavisme et un intermédiaire ingénieux, qualités qui lui avaient valu la nationalité vénézuélienne et un passeport diplomatique.Soupçonné par les Etats-Unis de tirer les ficelles d'un vaste réseau qui aurait permis à Nicolas Maduro et aux membres du pouvoir de détourner à leur profit de l'aide alimentaire, Alex Saab a été ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP Par Moisés ÁVILA © 2026 AFP Des bras géants en métal suspendus au-dessus du terrain du stade de Dallas diffusent une lumière violette pour s'assurer que la pelouse sera prête pour le premier match du Mondial-2026, le 14 juin.Le stade AT&T, qui sera renommé Stade de Dallas pour la compétition, est l'antre de l'équipe de NFL des Cowboys à Arlington. C'est la plus grande enceinte du Mondial avec 94.000 places et celle qui sera la plus utilisée avec neuf matches.Comme dans d'autres stades de NFL, il a fallu remplacer le gazon synthétique par de la pelouse naturelle, installée sur un lit de terreau de 60 cm par rouleau d'1,20 m sur 15. C'est une variété d'herbe originaire du Kentucky qui a poussé dans une ferme du Colorado. Le directeur général du stade, Tod Martin, se dit confiant que la nouvelle pelouse sera impeccable pour le premier match entre les Pays-Bas et le Japon le 14 juin.Pour la faire pousser, un système d'irrigation en sous-sol a été installé, et pour stimuler la photosynthèse alors que le toit du stade ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP © 2026 AFP Pau, Montpellier et le Stade français, à la lutte pour la deuxième place de la phase régulière du Top 14, qui assure une qualification directe en demi-finales, ont tous gagné samedi lors de la 24e journée. Bordeaux-Bègles, une semaine avant la finale de la Champions Cup, a souffert mais obtenu une victoire contre Perpignan pour rester dans le rythme du Top 6, que vise également le Racing 92, vainqueur de Toulon. La qualification est toujours l'objectif de La Rochelle, qui recevra le leader Toulousain dimanche.. Pau toujours invaincu au HameauDernière équipe invaincue à domicile cette saison en Top 14, Pau a conservé sa dynamique en s'imposant en ouverture de la journée sur le fil contre Clermont (24-19), concurrent direct aux premières places de l'élite mais qui tombe avec ce résultat à la sixième place (67 points).L'ASM a pourtant su faire déjouer les Palois comme rarement cette saison au Hameau, mais le point de bonus défensif rapporté du Béarn ne les comblera pas, alors qu'ils avaient obtenu miraculeusement une touche à cinq mètres de la ligne de Pau juste après la sirène. La balle de match a été gâchée par un lancer pas droit. ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP © 2026 AFP Pour la troisième fois de sa carrière, Elina Svitolina a remporté samedi le tournoi de Rome et le sacre de l'Ukrainienne, huit ans après son précédent titre au Foro Italico, confirme son retour au premier plan à 31 ans, trois ans et demi après avoir donné naissance à sa fille.Déjà sacrée sur la terre battue romaine en 2017 et 2018, Svitolina y a de nouveau triomphé en battant en finale l'Américaine Coco Gauff (4e) 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 au terme de 2 h 49 minutes de jeu.L'Ukrainienne a pourtant débuté sa sixième finale dans un WTA 1000 en perdant d'entrée son service. Menée 4-2, elle a renversé la vapeur avec plus d'agressivité quand Gauff a perdu pied au service.Svitolina a enchaîné quatre jeux pour empocher la première manche en soixante minutes sur une double-faute de son adversaire qui, de colère, s'est frappé la tête avec le tamis de sa raquette.Dans le seconde manche, Gauff, 22 ans, a été la première à faire la différence pour mener 6-5 et a servi pour le set, mais s'est fait debreaker. L'Américaine a ensuite fait cavalier seul dans le jeu décisif pour égaliser à une manche partout.Dans ... Continue Reading »

A French judge will examine complaints filed by rights groups accusing Saudi Crown Prince of complicity in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

Bulgaria’s Dara won Eurovision in Vienna, while Israel’s Noam Bettan finished second despite protests over his country’s participation Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

The US has canceled a planned troop deployment to Poland, highlighting growing tensions between President Donald Trump and European allies Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant was attacked twice by Ukrainian drones over the past week, Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev has said Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

The US and Israel could potentially renew their aggression against Iran as early as next week, the NYT has said Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

Командир с позывным Вектор отметил, что они их "нейтрализовали" в Сумской области Continue Reading »

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Задержанный - 28-летний местный житель Continue Reading »

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Как добавил мэр, в основном ранена смена строителей возле проходной МНПЗ Continue Reading »

Massive Fireball Seen Near Jerusalem After Explosion At Israeli Defense Facility... (Top headline, 1st story, link) Related stories:RESIDENTS ALARMED BY BLAST... DEVELOPING... Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron Continue Reading »

RESIDENTS ALARMED BY BLAST... DEVELOPING... (Top headline, 2nd story, link) Related stories:Massive Fireball Seen Near Jerusalem After Explosion At Israeli Defense Facility... Continue Reading »

THE DON'S $1.7 BILLION 'SLUSH FUND' (Main headline, 1st story, link) Related stories:'TRUTH COMMISSION' TO COMPENSATE ALLIES Continue Reading »

'TRUTH COMMISSION' TO COMPENSATE ALLIES (Main headline, 2nd story, link) Related stories:THE DON'S $1.7 BILLION 'SLUSH FUND' Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron Continue Reading »

China Will Host Putin -- Days After Trump Visit... (First column, 1st story, link) Continue Reading »

Led By Donkeys has snuck a big screen streaming pro-immigration messages into a far-right rally in the UK. Continue Reading »

Hundreds of Tunisians have marched through the capital to denounce a worsening economic crisis and crackdown on dissent. Continue Reading »

Iraq’s new prime minister Ali al‑Zaidi has formally taken office in Baghdad, pledging reforms. Continue Reading »

Iran to reveal its plan for Strait of Hormuz soon as Israel attacks Lebanon and Gaza, killing and wounding dozens. Continue Reading »

The government of Rodrigo Paz has sent about 3,500 soldiers and police to clear protesters demanding his resignation. Continue Reading »

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A third reported more violence over the past year, 53% said schools fail to properly handle incidents and one in 10 said they were victims, as recent youth attacks heighten concern Continue Reading »

State media says Ehsan Afreshteh was trained by Mossad in Nepal and sold sensitive information to Israel before being hanged after the Supreme Court upheld his espionage conviction Continue Reading »

Police said the shooting appeared to be criminal in nature; killing brings the number of homicide victims in Israel’s Arab community since the start of the year to 104 Continue Reading »

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Senator Bill Cassidy, a two-term Republican who voted to convict President Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, could not muster enough votes to continue to a runoff next month. Continue Reading »

Senator Bill Cassidy’s defeat means no more than two of them will be left in Congress next year. Continue Reading »

The lack of concrete agreements with Beijing shows the risks of President Trump’s personality-driven foreign policy, which rests on the belief that he can defend U.S. interests through charm and force of will. Continue Reading »

Democrats announced Saturday night that the Senate’s top parliamentary referee had determined that the $1 billion provision did not comply with budget rules. Continue Reading »

China’s Ministry of Commerce said Saturday that the countries had struck a preliminary agreement to reduce some tariffs, seemingly contradicting statements by President Trump Continue Reading »

The Chinese upstart says it has trained high-performing AI models cheaply, without using the most advanced chips. Continue Reading »

DeepSeek, SoFi and more in the latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom. Continue Reading »

DeepSeek is called “amazing and impressive” despite working with less-advanced chips. Continue Reading »

The LinkedIn co-founder is starting Manas AI with “The Emperor of All Maladies” author Siddhartha Mukherjee. Continue Reading »

Apps can add flexibility and freshness to your routine. Just try not to get injured. Continue Reading »

Israel allowed displaced Gazans to begin crossing a military zone that bisects the enclave after a deadlock over hostage releases was broken. Continue Reading »

Troubles at Vanke raise questions about the continued spread of the property crisis and whether the Chinese state will step in. Continue Reading »

Some of the women were held alone for extended periods and spent eight months in tunnels, an Israeli medical official said. Continue Reading »

The alliance mounted its first coordinated response to a suspected sabotage campaign against critical infrastructure after another cable was severed in the Baltic Sea. Continue Reading »

Residents of Goma reported gunfire and shelling after rebels overran Congolese troops. U.N. officials estimated that more than one million displaced people were now inside the city. Continue Reading »

Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow, the president’s favored candidate, and MAGA-aligned state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a runoff for the GOP nomination. Continue Reading »

“We are not going down without a fight. We are not going down to Jim Crow maps,” said Shalela Dowdy, a plaintiff in the Alabama redistricting case. Continue Reading »

“I’m going to win today,” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in an interview, brushing off Trump's efforts to oust him and MAHA's influence in the race. Continue Reading »

The emerging fractures carry significant implications for the future of the U.S.-Israel alliance and GOP efforts to keep together President Donald Trump’s coalition. Continue Reading »

The two-term incumbent is polling in third place in the GOP primary for his Louisiana Senate seat, as he faces a Trump-backed challenger. Continue Reading »

Republicans proposed sending $1 billion to the Secret Service, with some to be used on the controversial White House project. Continue Reading »

The gambit would likely jeopardize two other key congressional priorities on housing and government surveillance powers. Continue Reading »

“Technical adjustments” are necessary after conferring with the Senate rulekeeper, a GOP panel said. Continue Reading »

Democrats and at least one powerful Republican still have concerns about Mullin’s leadership of the department. Continue Reading »

Cohen’s Memphis-based district was recently dismantled in a Republican gerrymandering effort. Continue Reading »

The gambit would likely jeopardize two other key congressional priorities on housing and government surveillance powers. Continue Reading »

Republicans want to ensure voters get to the polls without Trump on the ballot. Continue Reading »

The president is caught between pleasing ranchers, a loyal GOP constituency and addressing voters' affordability concerns. Continue Reading »

President Donald Trump returns from his two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping with hints of deals but no progress on key issues that vex the U.S.-China relationship. Continue Reading »

The president’s comments mean a $14 billion deal, which Congress approved back in January, now hangs in the balance. Continue Reading »

The FBI hit back Thursday at an Associated Press report that Director Kash Patel participated in a "VIP snorkel" excursion at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii last year, noting that the trip was part of a "historical tour to honor heroes who died on the USS Arizona — not a party." "The AP is attempting to spin an invitation from the Commanding General of Indo Pacom [US Indo-Pacific Command] to a military base as a party or vacation, which is so stupid," said FBI spokesman Ben Williamson in an X post. Continue Reading »

The FBI has rejected suggestions that Director Kash Patel acted improperly by snorkeling near a sacred Pearl Harbor shipwreck, after The Associated Press reported criticism of the trip by a marine veteran who said it was like a 'bachelor party.' The AP obtained government emails which revealed that, after visiting a field office in Hawaii in August, Patel went on what was described by government officials as a "VIP snorkel" expedition around the sunken USS Arizona, and the veteran who watches over the hallowed site said it was inappropriate. Continue Reading »

When Kash Patel visited Hawaii last summer, the FBI took pains to note the director was not on vacation, highlighting his walking tour of the bureau's Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement. Left out of the FBI's news releases was an exclusive excursion that Patel took days later when he participated in what government officials described as a "VIP snorkel" around the USS Arizona in an outing coordinated by the military. The sunken battleship entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines at Pearl Harbor. Continue Reading »

Federal employees are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins, accusing the Trump official of "Christian proselytizing" after she sent department emails on Christmas and Easter with religious messages. The complaint, brought by the National Federation of Federal Employees and seven USDA employees, accuses Rollins of "sending increasingly proselytizing communications to the entire USDA workforce, promoting her own preferred brand of Christian beliefs and theology to the captive audience of employees that report to her," since becoming head of the government agency in February 2025... Continue Reading »

Federal employees are suing Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, arguing that her use of Christian messaging in the workplace is "unconstitutionally coercive." The lawsuit, filed Wednesday (May 13) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, said Rollins "has adopted a practice of sending increasingly proselytizing communications to the entire USDA workforce, promoting her own preferred brand of Christian beliefs and theology to the captive audience of employees that report to her."... Continue Reading »

A new federal lawsuit accuses Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins of proselytizing federal employees by frequently invoking Jesus Christ in work emails. The National Federation of Federal Employees and a group of seven USDA employees filed the lawsuit in California, accusing Rollins of violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment... Continue Reading »

A growing wave of juvenile crime and "teen takeovers" in major Democrat-run cities is prompting renewed scrutiny of leftist policing policies, with critics warning that years of anti-law enforcement rhetoric have created an atmosphere of escalating disorder. The phenomenon has erupted in cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in recent months, with incidents often coordinated through TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media platforms... Continue Reading »

President Trump downplayed the effect redistricting will have on the midterm elections and said the outcome of the Iran war will be a bigger factor. "It helps. I mean, I don't know [if it will be the] difference," Trump said of how new congressional districts in several states will impact Republicans in November... Continue Reading »

Taiwan urged the United States to move forward with an arms sale to the island nation Friday after President Donald Trump expressed hesitancy regarding the sale in the wake of his two-day summit in Beijing. Congress has pushed the Trump administration to approve the sale this week as the president meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump told reporters that he has not made a decision regarding the future of the $14 billion arms sale, but would "make a determination over the next short period."... Continue Reading »

A former death row inmate who has been so close to execution that he's had three last meals has been released after nearly 30 years behind bars. Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai on May 14 set bail at $500,000 for Richard Glossip as he awaits a third trial in a 1997 murder-for-hire case. He posted it later in the day and walked out a free man. At least for now. Glossip has received public support both nationally and internationally, including from celebrities like Kim Kardashian. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out his conviction, siding with both his own lawyers and the state of Oklahoma, who said he didn't get a fair trial... Continue Reading »

The Justice Department will seek the death penalty for the man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum, prosecutors said in a court filing Friday. Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left an event at the museum last May. Rodriguez shouted "Free Palestine" during the shooting and later told police, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," according to his indictment... Continue Reading »

The nation's largest children's hospital has agreed to a legal settlement with Texas and the Trump administration over gender-affirming care for transgender youth that includes a $10 million payment to the state, the administration and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday. Texas Children's Hospital, based in Houston, said in a statement that it had agreed to the settlement "to protect our resources from endless and costly litigation." The hospital, which serves more than 1 million patients annually, said Paxton's office and the U.S. Department of Justice has investigated its care for three years, forcing it to "navigate an unconscionable campaign of mistruths and mischaracterizations."... Continue Reading »

The federal crackdown on California is escalating, with The California Post learning the Trump administration is withholding $1.3 billion in Medicaid funding amid mounting concerns over fraud tied to the state's hospice and home health agencies. Continue Reading »

The Trump administration is suspending $1.1 billion in Medicaid funding from California's home health program over fraud concerns, a move that state health officials and health advocates say could harm hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities. Continue Reading »

The Trump administration is withholding $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursement payments to California after officials alleged that the state failed to prosecute fraud in its own Medicaid program. Continue Reading »

War in Iran has roiled oil markets and sent fuel prices to near-record highs. But for years before that, electricity and other energy costs had been rising steadily in the US, with no signs of slowing. Will relief ever come? Continue Reading »

President Donald Trump made a lot of promises on the 2024 campaign trail. Which have been kept, and which are unfulfilled? Continue Reading »

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks announces his immediate resignation, stating he's leaving after bringing the border to its 'most secure' state under the Trump administration. Continue Reading »

Border Patrol Chief Michael ​Banks, who has led the agency since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, resigned from his position Thursday. Continue Reading »

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks suddenly resigned from his position Thursday following accusations of sexual impropriety. Continue Reading »

Establishment Media Outraged By White House Sponsored Christian Prayer Event The mainstream media's outrage over religious expressions by government institutions and politicians is highly selective.  At bottom, it the event is Christian, they attack.  If it's any other religion, they applaud. Did the mainstream media publish indignant diatribes when leftist NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani held Muslim dinners at City Hall and Gracie Manor for Ramadan?  The answer is no, of course they didn't.  Because Islam is celebrated by modern liberal movements and Christianity is despised.  And, it's important to take note of what leftists hate, because if they hate it, it's probably good. BREAKING - New video shows one of Zohran Mamdani’s Muslim guests at the mayor’s mansion flashing the one finger ISIS salute just days after one of the Muslims who attempted to carry out an attack against conservatives in NYC was seen flashing the same salute while being arrested. pic.twitter.com/fdcuhINTlg — Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) March 12, 2026 Progressive outlets are in an uproar this week over a White House sponsored Christian prayer event scheduled to take place on this Sunday at the National Mall.  The Trump administration and the ... Continue Reading »

America's Medicine Supply Chain Is A National Security Vulnerability Authored by Will Coggin via RealClearDefense, The Chinese government is tightening the screws on American investment in its artificial intelligence sector. The core purpose is to keep U.S. capital out of technologies it deems “strategically sensitive” to national security. The protective action is a reminder that Washington also needs to prioritize insulating our own critical sectors from foreign adversaries. Few industries are more important to our national security than healthcare. More than 131 million people - nearly two-thirds of all U.S. adults - use prescription medications. Yet the United States has allowed its pharmaceutical supply chains to become dangerously dependent on foreign rivals - particularly China.  That vulnerability became strikingly clear during the pandemic, when U.S. leaders scrambled to secure masks, gloves, and other protective equipment from overseas. But our overreliance on China runs far deeper than just rubber and fabric.  Today, China produces an outsized portion of the world’s Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). These are the chemical backbone of most medicines, from insulin to antibiotics to asthma treatments. In a crisis—whether military confrontation, sanctions escalation, or a broader trade disagreement—Beijing would have us by ... Continue Reading »

The WHO Drums Up Fear With Ebola After Hantavirus Scare Fails One of the biggest mistakes globalists made in their bid for perpetual medical authoritarianism during the Covid pandemic was reveling a bit too much.  Numerous high level officials from the WEF, WHO, the Imperial College of London and an army of politicians were giddy with excitement and bragged publicly about all the power they were going to grab as the masses huddled in fear of a virus with a 99.8% average survival rate. This arrogance cost them, triggering an awakening of millions of former skeptics who are now avid "conspiracy theorists".  Today, the ability of the elitist class to sucker the populace into a new pandemic theater is greatly reduced. No one believes them anymore.  And even if there was a legitimate biological threat, no one is going to trust an corrupt organization like the WHO to solve the problem.   We have see the consequences of the covid farce with the recent Hantavirus scare, which has failed to inspire any noticeable reaction from the public.  As we noted a few days ago, the WHO has been exposed as a perpetrator of ... Continue Reading »

The Trans Delusion: A Philosophical Nail In Its Coffin Authored by Chris Milton via The Daily Sceptic The arguments in philosopher Thomas Nagel’s seminal 1974 essay ‘What is it Like to be Bat?‘ can help us answer the question of whether a human born with XY chromosomes and a male body can be, can become or can know what it’s like to be a woman, or can know what inhabiting the world is like for a woman. Nagel - who randomly chose bats from the list of mammals - began from the premise that if an organism has consciousness then there is something that it is like to be that organism, and his question was whether we could know “what is like for a bat to be a bat”. Nagel’s essay argues for the wholly subjective character of experience, and how this subjectivity is dictated by differences in the physicality of beings. A creature shapes its Umwelt, or lifeworld, through its interactions with the world, and those interactions are determined by that creature’s body. Men and women inhabit similar yet profoundly different Umwelts. The qualia of sensation — meaning the instances of subjective experience, such as what it’s like to perceive a colour, to taste an apple or hear a ... Continue Reading »

Solar Power Generation To Exceed Coal For First Time In Texas Grids Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Annual electricity power generation from utility-scale solar projects is predicted to exceed output from coal for the first time ever in 2026 on grids run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). An aerial view of the Amazon Fort Powhatan Solar Farm in Disputanta, Va., on Aug. 19, 2022. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images This year, solar power generation within the ERCOT-run grids, which cover most of the state, is expected to be 78 billion kilowatt hours (BkWh), 30 percent higher than the 60 BkWh generated by coal, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a May 13 statement, while adding that solar generation has been steadily increasing within ERCOT. For 2027, annual solar generation is projected at 99 BkWh, a 50 percent lead over coal’s 66 BkWh. “Natural gas remains the dominant source of electricity generation in ERCOT, accounting for an average 44 percent of electricity generation from 2021 to 2025,” the agency said. However, “solar’s share of the generation mix has increased from 4 percent to 12 percent in those ... Continue Reading »

Nearly 2,500 Pounds Of Cocaine, 105 Pounds Of Marijuana Seized In Joint Operation By US Forces Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), U.S. forces seized around 2,500 pounds of cocaine and 105 pounds of marijuana in two separate maritime operations involving foreign nations. In one operation, the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) South and the Drug Enforcement Administration identified a drug runner from Colombia transporting narcotics. Forces from the Dominican Republic interdicted the vessel, while USS Billing secured the jettisoned cargo, JIATF South said in a May 12 post on X. Around 326 kilograms (approx. 718 pounds) of cocaine and 105 pounds of marijuana were prevented from entering American communities. Earlier, in a May 7 X post, JIATF South said that forces from Panama intercepted a vessel near the city of Colon on May 1 under the guidance of the task force. The Panamanian forces fired warning shots, detained two smugglers, and took custody of 799 kilograms (approx. 1,761 pounds) of cocaine. JIATF leverages its member nations’ capabilities to identify and monitor drug trafficking activity in maritime and air domains. The task force aims to interdict and seize illicit ... Continue Reading »

FBI Offers $200,000 Reward To Catch Former US Air Force Specialist In Iran Spying Case Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The FBI on Thursday said it is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran in 2013 and was later charged with revealing classified information to the Iranian regime. A FBI agent at the Department of Justice in Washington on Feb. 12, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times The bureau said in a statement that Monica Witt served in the military from 1997 to 2008, then worked as a government contractor until 2010. She later defected to Iran in 2013. In 2019, she was indicted by a grand jury in Washington on espionage charges, including transmitting national defense information to the Iranian regime, the FBI said. After she defected, according to the indictment, she later provided information to Iran and put “sensitive and classified U.S. national defense information and programs” at risk, according to the statement. The information she provided to the Iranian regime endangered American personnel and their families stationed abroad, the FBI said. Witt ... Continue Reading »

Putin To Visit China Just Days After Trump's Beijing, Demonstrating 'No Limits' Partnership Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Chinese President Xi Jinping from May 19 to 20, just days after US President Donald Trump concluded his state visit to Beijing, the Kremlin has announced. In a Telegram statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry unveiled that Putin would travel to China "at the invitation" of Xi Jinping, marking the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between Russia and China. RIA Novosti/EPA The readout indicates the two leaders will discuss expanding their countries' "comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation" and exchange views on "key international and regional issues." "Following the talks, they are expected to sign a Joint Statement at the highest level, as well as a number of bilateral intergovernmental, interdepartmental and other documents," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Putin is also scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade cooperation. While all of this was likely in the planning stages long ago, the timing and symbolism sends a resounding message, at a moment when ironically Trump's China trip ended notably without any major breakthroughs on trade, or without resolving ... Continue Reading »

Pakistan Uses Diplomacy To Secure LNG Supply from Hormuz Submitted by Charles Kennedy of OilPrice.com Pakistan has negotiated the passage of vessels laden with Qatari LNG out of the Strait of Hormuz in a diplomatic feat that no other energy buyer has managed so far in the Iran war. Pakistan, which was the mediator of the U.S.-Iran talks and is passing messages from one to the other, appears to have used well its close ties with both Qatar and Iran to negotiate the successful imports of two tankers with Qatari LNG. Pakistan has relied on Qatar's term LNG supply for years, but the war in the Middle East has led to the shutdown of Qatari LNG production and exports. Without Qatar's LNG, Pakistan has been reeling from an intensifying energy crisis with power outages and fuel rationing. Thanks to a bilateral Pakistan-Iran agreement, two vessels carrying Qatari LNG arrived in Pakistan in recent days after successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The first LNG cargo that successfully cleared the chokepoint earlier this month was bound for Pakistan. "Qatar-linked LNG movement through Hormuz showed a limited but significant restart," maritime intelligence firm Windward said on Thursday ... Continue Reading »

"You Should Be Preparing Your Criminal Defense": Becerra Feels The Heat In Final California Governor's Debate Authored by Susan Crabtree via RealClearPolitics, Seven candidates vying for California’s governorship squared off Thursday in their fifth and final debate, with frontrunner Xavier Becerra facing down an onslaught of attacks from the right and the left over his policy record, a campaign fraud scandal, and what rivals described as a deceptive flip-flop on healthcare policy. “This is what happens when you take the lead in polls,” remarked the former Biden Health and Human Services secretary after several heated attacks from his rivals. Becerra’s recent surge to the top of the pack and his record spanning more than three decades in office made him a top target, continuing a theme from the last few debates over the last month. An Emerson College poll released Wednesday showed Becerra as the top choice of just 19% of voters, compared to 17% each for Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer – a razor-thin margin that underscores just how volatile and wide open this race remains with just a few weeks of voting left in the primary. Another 12.1% of ... Continue Reading »

Tehran Claims US Faces Escalating Economic Fallout From 'War Of Choice' As Hardship Mounts Inside Iran Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Saturday that the United States would face mounting economic fallout from its "war of choice" against Iran, as both sides appear settled into a long game of waiting to inflict the most severe economic and political damage on the other. In a post on X, Araghchi said Americans would bear the escalating financial costs of the conflict with Tehran. "Put aside gas price hike and stock market bubble. Real pain begins when U.S. debt and mortgage rates start to jump," he wrote in English. This isn't the first time Iranian officials and state media have tried to directly appeal to the American public. Araghchi also pointed to growing economic strain inside the United States, saying auto loan delinquencies had already climbed to their highest level in more than 30 years. "This was all avoidable," he added, framing the start of the conflict as Trump's 'war of choice' in the Middle East. Of course, the Pentagon has a big card to play too, as on Saturday US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that ... Continue Reading »

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Job Is Impossible Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance Congratulations to Kevin Warsh on officially becoming the next Federal Reserve chair. Unfortunately for him, he may have just accepted the worst job in global finance at the worst possible moment. Warsh was narrowly confirmed this week in the most partisan Fed chair vote in modern history, inheriting a central bank that has spent years under political attack while gliding straight into a macroeconomic minefield. Inflation just accelerated to a three-year high. Oil is higher amid Middle East tensions. President Trump is openly demanding lower rates. And now the bond market appears to be losing patience, pushing yields dramatically higher to end the week last week. Friday was a perfect preview of the mess waiting for him. On Friday, most investors spent the day staring at falling tech stocks as the S&P 500 dropped 1.24% and the Nasdaq fell 1.54%, but that wasn’t the real story. The real story was happening in Treasuries, where the 30-year yield ripped above 5.1% as investors digested hotter inflation data from earlier in the week and the growing realization that rates may need to stay ... Continue Reading »

50 Empty Waymos Invade Upscale Tiny Atlanta Neighborhood With Waymo robotaxis now operating in 11 major U.S. markets, these fully autonomous Jaguar I-PACE SUVs are becoming increasingly visible to everyday folks. This wider rollout means more public encounters and more viral footage capturing robotaxis in the wild. One such incident occurred in a northwest Atlanta neighborhood this week, where residents told local media outlet WSB-TV that more than 50 empty Waymo SUVs flooded their tiny street. "It's almost every little cul-de-sac in our area, so I think it's a problem," one neighbor on Battleview Drive told WSB's Steve Gehlbach. The Battleview resident said, "I think yesterday morning we had 50 cars come through between 6 and 7." It's not just Battleview; other residents in the area say empty robotaxis have been repeatedly circling their streets in growing numbers over the past several weeks. Residents told the local outlet that the robotaxis are not picking up passengers, raising concerns that the activity is excessive and potentially dangerous, especially for families with children nearby. Expect more stories like this as robotaxi deployment ramps up nationwide. We have provided readers with enough context about robotaxi deployments (see here ... Continue Reading »

Persian Gulf Countries 'Refused' UAE Call For Joint Attack On Iran Via The Cradle The UAE tried but failed to persuade neighboring states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to take part in a coordinated military attack on Iran, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) spoke by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) and other regional leaders to propose the coordinated attacks, shortly after the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, the sources said. During the calls, MbZ argued that the states that formed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) must act as a bloc to attack Iran alongside the US and Israel. However, his fellow Gulf leaders told him it was "not their war," according to the report. When Saudi Crown Prince MbS refused to go along with the scheme, already shaky ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia were further strained. The Saudi refusal also contributed to the Emirates' decision to leave OPEC and OPEC+, the oil-producing cartel, and deepen its existing ties to Israel. The UAE ultimately carried out several strikes against Iran without support from other Gulf states ... Continue Reading »

One Of Russia's Largest Fuel Facilities Spews 'Black Rain' Over Ryazan After Deadly Ukrainian Drone Strike An early Friday drone strike triggered a major fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia's largest fuel production facilities, according to local residents and Russian monitoring channels. Residents reported multiple loud explosions after drones were seen flying over the city, with videos circulating online showing flames and thick smoke rising from the refinery. VKontakte/Moscow Times "An ASTRA OSINT analyst has determined that in addition to two high-rise buildings, an oil refinery in the city was damaged. Photos taken by witnesses were taken near the Olympic Town microdistrict, approximately 4 km from the Ryazan Oil Refinery," one independent Russian outlet wrote. Two high-rise buildings in Ryazan were also struck, resulting in significant casualties: A Ukrainian drone barrage killed at least four people and ignited a huge fire at an oil refinery in the city of Ryazan on Friday, in what appeared to be a direct retaliation for a deadly Russian strike on Kyiv a day earlier. Ryazan region Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the deaths in posts on Telegram, adding that dozens of people, including children, were wounded in the ... Continue Reading »

Democrats Devastated After Supreme Court Rejects Attempt To Revive Virginia Congressional Map Hammering the last nail in the coffin of what could have been a significant midterm factor, the US Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia Democrats' request to use a new congressional district map, which was drawn to flip four House seats into Democratic control. 🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL, WE WIN! "The US Supreme Court moments ago has ruled AGAINST Virginia Democrats when it comes to reviving their pro-Democrat redistricting map ahead of the 2026 midterms." WOULD'VE BEEN: 10D-1R MAP WILL REMAIN AS: 6D-5R Another Dem embarrassment. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/sfWWvumcnJ — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 15, 2026 As is typical in this kind of "emergency" ruling, the court provided no legal rationale or vote count -- however no dissents were noted.   The new map was expected to dramatically alter the composition of Virginia's US House delegation, boosting Democrats from their current slim 6-5 edge to 10-1 domination. For context, in 2024 presidential balloting, Virginia voters were split 52% for Democrat Kamala Harris and 46% for Donald Trump.  On May 8, the Virginia Supreme Court denied a request from Democrats and state officials to lift a lower-court order blocking certification of the April ... Continue Reading »

Lefty Union Paralyzes Long Island Rail Road As Strike Sets Commuter Chaos Countdown For Monday Yet another reason for privatizing mass transportation emerged Saturday morning, after a left-wing rail union launched a strike set to snarl the nation's busiest commuter railroad network. The labor action threatens to paralyze the Long Island Rail Road, a critical transportation artery spanning the New York City-to-Long Island corridor and linking Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens with Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET), which endorsed former left-wing and failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris, said its 3,500 members who work for the LIRR went on strike early Saturday morning. "No agreement on wage increases was reached between a coalition of five unions, including BLET, and the LIRR. In accordance with the terms of the Railway Labor Act, the coalition's 3,500 members went on strike just after midnight," BLET wrote on X. No agreement on wage increases was reached between a coalition of five unions, including BLET, and the LIRR. In accordance with the terms of the Railway Labor Act, the coalition’s 3,500 members went on strike just after midnight on Saturday, May 16. Story: ... Continue Reading »

Bonds Are Screaming "Something's Wrong" Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance Bond yields are doing exactly what I warned about yesterday: forcing reality back into a market that had become increasingly detached from it. Heading into Friday’s cash open, U.S. equity futures are under pressure, with S&P 500 futures down roughly 1% and Nasdaq futures off even more sharply as global bond markets sold off overnight. CNBC reported that by Friday morning in London, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield had climbed nearly 9 basis points to 4.544%, marking its highest level in almost a year. The move wasn’t isolated to the U.S. U.K. 10-year gilt yields jumped another 15 basis points as investors continued digesting fiscal and political instability abroad, while Japan’s 2-year yield surged as much as 19 basis points before cooling modestly. Government bonds, precious metals, and international equities all sold off simultaneously as investors began repricing inflation risks, geopolitical instability, and the growing realization that central banks may not be rushing to save markets anytime soon. That matters because this is how stress sometimes tends to emerge in overextended markets. It rarely starts with equities themselves. It often begins in credit markets, rates markets, ... Continue Reading »

Samsung, South Korean Union Resume Talks As Strike Threat Risks Disrupting Memory Chip Fabs Heavy selling swept across Asian markets on Friday, with South Korea's benchmark KOSPI plunging 6% as traders aggressively reduced exposure to the country's semiconductor sector. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the decline. The catalyst for the sell-off was labor action risk headlines at Samsung, where the company's union threatened a strike that could disrupt production lines at the world's largest memory chip manufacturer. By Saturday morning, there was a major sigh of relief: Samsung and its labor union would resume government-mediated pay talks on Monday, according to a Reuters report. The union released a statement earlier explaining that Samsung had replaced its negotiation team, and both sides would meet later Saturday for separate meetings ahead of Monday. Chairman Jay Y. Lee issued a public apology over the labor dispute, alongside Samsung's decision to replace its lead negotiator: "I sincerely apologize to customers around the world for causing anxiety and concern due to issues within our company," Lee said, telling reporters that he also "deeply bows in apology to the public." South Korean officials, including the labor minister, prime minister, ... Continue Reading »

UK Moves To Ban New North Sea Oil & Gas Licenses Permanently Via City AM, The UK government will introduce legislation banning new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences as part of its Energy Independence Bill. Critics argue the policy will increase Britain’s reliance on imported fossil fuels while damaging Scotland’s oil and gas industry. Rising oil prices and disruptions tied to the Iran conflict have intensified political pressure on Labour to reconsider the ban. The government will make it illegal to grant new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, the King said at the state opening of Parliament, in a sign ministers are refusing to buckle in the face of a barrage of criticism that the policy is depriving the UK of billions of pounds in tax receipts without helping the environment. As part of an Energy Independence Bill announced in the King’s Speech, the government will bake into law its pre-election pledge not to explore new oil and gas fields in a bid to “take control of our energy security”. In its 2024 manifesto, the Labour Party made a ban on all new exploration and drilling licences in the North Sea a key ... Continue Reading »