"A Day Apart Feels Like 3 Autumns": Putin, Xi's Bonhomie In Beijing

05/21/26 12:16 AM

Putin was received by Xi outside Beijing's opulent Great Hall of the People in much the same fashion as Trump last week, complete with chanting children and military fanfare.

"Al Instrument For Inclusive Development": PM Modi, Meloni In Joint Article

05/20/26 3:17 PM

The leaders said the two countries "aim to create an open, trustworthy and equitable digital space in which every nation can shape and benefit from Al".

"Completely Unacceptable": EU Slams Israel Over Gaza Activists' Treatment

05/21/26 5:32 AM

The European Commission found the treatment of the Gaza flotilla activists shown in a video released by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is "completely unacceptable", a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"I'd Like To See Few People Killed": Trump Warns Iran Of "Nasty" Things

05/21/26 1:36 AM

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that talks with Tehran were "on the borderline" between a deal to end the Middle East war and a resumption of strikes on Iran.

"Netanyahu Will Do Whatever I Want": Trump Claims 99% Rating In Israel

05/20/26 9:24 PM

Citing his exceptionally high approval ratings in the country, US President Donald Trump said, "So maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel, run for prime minister. I had a poll this morning. I'm 99%."

"Not In Line With Israel's Values": Netanyahu Rebukes Minister After Gaza Video

05/20/26 11:31 PM

Netanyahu said that although Israel has every right to stop "provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters," the way National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir dealt with the activists was "not in line with Israel's values and norms."

"Violates Dignity": Meloni Rips Into Israel Over Gaza Protesters Video

05/20/26 7:50 PM

Meloni called for the immediate release of any detained Italian citizens and demanded an apology from Israel.

'Critical point' for consumer shortages flagged as 'emergency buffers fail simultaneously'

05/17/26 4:30 PM

Renowned international security expert Robert Pape issued a dire warning on Sunday that an irreversible “critical point” had been reached in the U.S. war against Iran, one that risks sparking global shortages and economic disruptions on a scale not seen in decades.“Two months ago, I warned that the Iran war was not simply creating an oil price spike. It was creating the conditions for shortages, supply disruptions, and eventually economic contraction,” Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, warned in an analysis published Sunday on his Substack. “That transition is now beginning.”Among Iran’s first responses to the “unprovoked” attack from the United States and Israel was to close the Strait of Hormuz – a critical shipping waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil trade historically flowed – to U.S.-aligned vessels. Predictably, the strait’s partial closure sent oil prices skyrocketing.With the war now stretching into its 78th day as of Sunday, the strait’s closure has finally exhausted worldwide “buffers” that have helped to slow the economic impact from disrupting trade through what is among the busiest shipping channels on earth, Pape warned.“The critical point is no longer oil prices alone,” Pape wrote. “The world’s emergency buffers – inventories, reserves, subsidies, and logistical workarounds – are beginning to fail simultaneously.”Signs of existing stockpiles or resources still in transit being exhausted have already reached the United States. The final shipment of oil from the Strait of Hormuz before its partial closure arrived in California earlier this month, and reporting suggests a major shortage of motor oil may be imminent.

'How is this real?' Hegseth pilloried for bizarre cartoon asking for $1.5 trillion

05/14/26 4:09 PM

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced backlash after he shared an animated video arguing that the Pentagon needed a massive $1.5 trillion for war preparations.In a social media post on Thursday, Hegseth called the funds a "GENERATIONAL DOWN PAYMENT on America's national defense.""We remain the strongest military power on Earth, but that power requires renewal," the defense secretary said in the video. "And with global threats that are constantly evolving, it's time to make a $1.5 trillion investment, a generational down payment. For far too long, Washington bureaucrats allowed America's defense industrial base to fall apart."The video featured a cartoon version of former President Joe Biden alongside a crumbling factory."The execution of operations Midnight Hammer, Southern Spear, Absolute Resolve, and Epic Fury are testaments to this restoration of strength," Hegseth crowed. "America's $1.5 trillion investment guarantees that the United States military will maintain this advantage against any adversary, anywhere, at any time."However, not all viewers of the cartoon were sold on Hegseth's pitch."How is this real?" author Jim Stewartson asked. "This is a pitch for $1.5 trillion and it looks like a bad Sora demo. The Pentagon is a clown show. What a tragedy.""Not for nothing, but the School House Rock vibe is bad," Lincoln Project strategist Reed Galen observed."More bullsh— from a bulls—er," Democratic author James Graham quipped."We've never seen a Secretary of a Cabinet position have to SELL the PRESIDENTS ideas with bad AI commercials," KRLL radio host Mark Bland commented.

'Not Expecting More Company-Wide Layoffs This Year,' Meta CEO Tells Staff

05/20/26 11:38 PM

He made the announcement on the same day the Facebook owner carried out a massive restructuring of the company, laying off 10 per cent of its workforce globally and transferring 7,000 other employees.