Trump’s sons claim share in mining group supported by US govt – FT

The company secured up to $1.6 billion from Washington last year to extract tungsten in Kazakhstan, the news outlet has said

A shell company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump has agreed to a merger with a mining group that secured up to $1.6 billion from the US government in 2025 to facilitate the extraction of tungsten in Kazakhstan, the Financial Times has reported.

The agreement between Skyline Builders group, in which US President Donald Trump’s sons hold a stake, and Cove Kaz Capital group was signed on Thursday. The newly-formed entity will trade on Nasdaq as Kaz Resources, according to a statement.

Cove Kaz currently controls 70% of the Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten deposits in central Kazakhstan, believed to be one of the largest in the world. Last year, the federally-funded US Export-Import Bank and the Development Finance Corporation committed to invest heavily in the development of both projects.

The statement didn’t mention Trump’s sons, but the FT reported on Friday, citing informed sources, that they bought into Skyline last August via a special purpose vehicle run by a subsidiary of Dominari Securities. The size of their investment was not disclosed, but they increased it by $24 million in October.

The paper stressed that “there is no suggestion that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump knew that Cove was on the cusp of securing a contract from their father’s US administration when they made their initial investments in Skyline… or that they influenced the awarding of the contract.”

American Ventures, of which Dominari is a member, said that Donald Trump Jr. “has no operational involvement in the company” and “does not interface with the federal government on behalf of any company he invests in.” Eric Trump didn’t respond to a request for comment from the FT.

The Democrats have repeatedly sounded the alarm over potential conflicts of interest arising from the investments by Trump’s family members in companies that have secured lucrative government contracts. The president’s kin made more than $1 billion in pre-tax profits last year by getting involved in cryptocurrency, AI, drones and critical minerals projects, according to FT.

https://www.rt.com/news/639343-trump-kazakhstan-us-tungsten/

Yale welcomes neo-Nazi veteran to Ukrainian oligarch-bankrolled ‘leadership program’

An Azov fighter has been spotted among the participants at the Connecticut-based university

An open neo-Nazi associated with the notorious Azov regiment, Yan ‘MacGregor’ Klishayev, has been spotted among a group of 15 Ukrainian veterans enrolled in a new leadership program at Yale University.

The meet-and-greet photo surfaced online on Thursday, showing Klishayev among the veterans posing alongside Timothy Snyder, Professor of History and Global Affairs. The militant has been long associated with the notorious neo-Nazi Azov regiment, which has been rebranded as the 3rd Assault Brigade after suffering a crushing defeat from the Russian military during the battle of Mariupol early in the Ukraine conflict.

https://x.com/HavryshkoMarta/status/2049617192992297180

Summary

US Treasury goes after Hormuz payment fees, sanctioning three Iranian foreign currency exchange houses. Bessent issues pressure points against Iranian 'rats'.

White House officials argue the current absence of fighting between Iranian & US forces means the 60-day timeline for Congressional approval (or US forces must leave) doesn't apply due to the ceasefire.

Trump on Friday rejects Iran's latest revised proposal to Pakistan mediators. Nuclear issue not included: a non-starter, and focus is on ending the war. Israeli officials balk.

Iran economically squeezed, signs of divided response among leadership, but surviving: "Weeks of conflict have aggravated Iran's dire economic problems, risking calamity after the war, but the Islamic Republic looks able to survive a standoff in the Gulf for now." (Rtrs)

Alternative routes emerge: "Iran cannot be besieged; We have different ways to export and import," Iranian official says.

Chinese Nationals Charged Building Meth Super Factory

Law Enforcement Authorities Seize Tens of Thousands of Pounds of Machinery the Defendants Shipped From China to Europe to Construct an Industrial Methamphetamine Factory While Importing Methamphetamine Precursor Chemicals to the United States

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Cindy Marx, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging WENFENG CUI, a/k/a “Vincen,” and FAN PANG, a/k/a “Jerry,” with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, conspiracy to import methamphetamine precursor chemicals, and methamphetamine importation related to a nearly year-long effort to research, develop, and put into operation a technologically sophisticated factory to mass produce methamphetamine. The defendants were arrested in New York City on February 2, 2026, after a meeting in which they provided detailed instructions for the chemical synthesis of the drug, as well as the technological operation of industrial machinery the defendants created to produce it. Law enforcement authorities later seized shipping containers packed with the equipment at a port in Europe. Both defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein, who ordered them detained pending trial. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.

“As alleged, the defendants worked with chemists and engineers to develop and deploy a sophisticated technology for the industrial production of methamphetamine capable of producing 400 kilograms of ‘meth’ every day,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Their goal was terrifying in its ambition. The potential harm of this scale of methamphetamine on our streets should give all New Yorkers and all Americans pause. This Office will find and prosecute not only the dealers distributing poison to New Yorkers, but also the people behind those operations. Working with our international law enforcement partners, we will bring narcotics traffickers to justice—no matter where they are in the world, and no matter whether they commit their crimes in laboratories or on street corners.”

“This indictment underscores the evolving threat posed by the synthetic drug market, in particular the increase we are seeing in methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx, Special Operations Division. “The level of technical expertise, industrial-scale machinery, and international reach revealed in this case is a stark reminder that today’s illicit drug trade is driven by innovation and relentless adaptation. The cartels are adapting, and so are we. DEA will continue to leverage its resources to protect our communities from the devastating impact of synthetic drugs.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and other public court filings:[1]

Over the course of approximately eight months, confidential sources acting at the direction of the DEA and posing as narcotics traffickers communicated regularly with CUI and PANG in order to broker chemical agreements. During one recorded call, CUI said that he could produce customized machinery to produce methamphetamine over the course of several months, and additional machines with subsequently refined designs in as few as 30 days. CUI said that he could provide training in the assembly, installation, and operation of the equipment once it was produced, and offered ongoing parts and technical support on-site in Central America to a narcotics trafficker who purported to be located in Guatemala.

During a June 5, 2025, meeting, CUI said that he had many repeat customers who purchased hundreds of kilograms of precursor chemical from which methamphetamine could be synthesized from CUI and PANG.

During a June 17, 2025, meeting, CUI said, in sum and substance, that prototype machinery was already working. PANG said that a completed machine could be ready by July and would produce as much as 800 kilograms of methamphetamine per production cycle. During the meeting, CUI and PANG also offered to facilitate the sale of a sample of approximately forty kilograms of methylamine hydrochloride, a List I chemical used in the synthesis of methamphetamine. CUI offered to deliver the chemical from China to New York in exchange for $4,000. After the meeting, on or about June 18, 2025, CUI sent a confidential source screenshots of the chemical compositions of controlled substances his synthesis techniques could produce, including the CAS Registry number for methamphetamine. In August 2025, the defendant directed the shipment of methamphetamine precursor chemicals to New York.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/two-chinese-nationals-charged-methamphetamine-trafficking-crimes-developing-mass-scale

All core coded in Israel - ALL DEEP STATE - enormous national security violation and ongoing risk

Oracle Joins Growing List Of AI Firms Supporting Pentagon National Security Work

Summary:

Oracle Joins the growing list

OpenAI, Google, SpaceX/xAI, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Reflection AI to deploy AI tools in "classified settings" at the Department of War

Oracle Added

Department of War CTO posted on X that Oracle has officially joined the list of AI companies deploying AI tools to America's warfighters.

The list now includes: Oracle, OpenAI, Google, SpaceX/xAI, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Reflection AI.

Shares of Oracle are up 6.5% and are at new highs on the DoW announcement.

List Revealed

The Department of War has finalized agreements with OpenAI, Google, SpaceX/xAI, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Reflection AI to deploy AI tools in "classified settings." This means these tools will operate within secure government networks where sensitive or secret national security information is handled, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Anthropic's Claude had previously been one of the few AI tools available on Palantir's Maven platform. However, after the DoW labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk, the department pushed to broaden access to AI tools for top-secret work.

The deal with the seven AI companies to unleash these models for secret national-security work, such as intelligence reports, satellite imagery, drone feeds, signals data, battlefield updates, logistics data, or classified planning documents, merely reflects that Silicon Valley is coming around in supporting the DoD after years of rejecting work with the department.

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/dow-finalizes-deal-top-ai-firms-national-security-work

Why are taxpayers paying for this?

US Commits $100 Million for Chernobyl Repairs.

The U.S. Department of State has announced a large funding package to repair Chernobyl’s protective structure, damaged during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, to prevent potential radioactive leaks.

The United States Department of State has pledged $100 million to repair the Chernobyl nuclear plant after it was damaged by a suspected drone strike. The State Department’s pledge constitutes 20 percent of the G7’s approximately $500 million cost to repair the site’s protective structure.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State announced a $100 million commitment towards repairing the Chernobyl (Chornobyl) power plant, the site of the infamous 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine. The plant remains a critical concern due to its high levels of radioactive material. To contain the radiation, a protective structure called the New Safe Confinement (NSC) was built around the site to secure the reactor’s remains and manage contamination. However, in February 2025, the NSC was damaged in a suspected drone strike. Emergency repairs were made at the time, but have proven insufficient, raising concerns about radioactive leaks and similar problems, sparking a response from the State Department.

“It is urgent that all measures are taken to find a way to restore as much of the critical functions of the facility as possible.” – Eric Schmieman, engineer involved in NSC design and construction

Without sufficient repairs, the damaged NSC structure could fail to contain radioactive materials and contamination. This jeopardizes not only Ukraine but the entirety of Europe and beyond. The kind of repairs required to restore the NSC to its fundamental capabilities are complex, dangerous, and challenging under normal conditions. Conducting such large-scale engineering work during a war complicates things further.

Following the drone strike in early 2025, Chernobyl’s protective shield was confirmed as damaged by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA stressed that while radiation levels have not increased, the site’s ability to contain radioactive material was compromised.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/05/01/us-commits-100-million-for-chernobyl-repairs/

Three Recent Examples Of AI Being Used For Empire Propaganda

As was warned of years ago, generative AI is now being used for propaganda purposes.

In the last few days I’ve seen three separate instances of generative AI being used to promote propaganda for US-Israeli war agendas which are worth paying attention to.

Firstly, an Israel-based company called Generative AI for Good has been creating deepfakes of supposedly real women who say they were sexually assaulted by government forces in Iran.

The Canary reports:

“An Israel-based AI firm, Generative AI for Good, claims to be using deepfake technologies for positive ends. ‘Positive’ appears to mean creating deepfake videos to help the illegal US-Israel war on Iran.

“Generative AI for Good claims that it uses AI to ‘help survivors testify safely — in their real voice, without revealing their identity’. But Israel and its mouthpieces have been shown to have used false allegations of rapes and other atrocities on 7 October 2023 to justify its genocide in Gaza.”

https://youtu.be/kMzXUzEy3Lg

The Canary notes that Generative AI for Good is staffed with Israelis who have very conspicuous agendas, including a creative director who pushes the discredited narrative about mass rapes on October 7, a marketing manager who served in the IDF’s “Psychotechnical Headquarter”, and a founder who said in early 2024 that “Artificial intelligence is a secret weapon of ours” in using the revolutionary technology to bolster the military’s efforts both online and on the ground in the information war being waged alongside the military battlefields in Gaza.

An Israeli company generating AI videos of anonymous Iranian women describing sexual abuse at the hands of their government should obviously be considered a deceitful propaganda operation until proven otherwise. The line between using AI to help real victims protect their identities when describing real events and using AI to generate fake atrocity propaganda is far too nebulous to be taken seriously, especially in the hands of wildly biased Israelis. You should trust it about as far as you’d trust a hungry crocodile.

Secondly, users of the graphic design platform Canva have been complaining that the company’s AI service has been translating the word “Palestine” to “Ukraine” without prompting or permission. Complaints went viral, compelling Canva to address the issue.

Thirdly, a Spanish-language tweet about Israel from user @maps_black was auto-translated into English by Elon Musk’s AI Grok in a way that added entirely new sentences to the social media post to frame the Zionist state in a sympathetic light.

The original tweet read simply, “¿Cuál es tu opinión sobre ISRAEL?”, which of course translates to “What is your opinion about Israel?” But Grok translated the post into English as “My opinion on Israel? It’s a resilient nation with a rich history and vibrant culture, but it’s also at the center of complex geopolitical tensions that demand empathy and dialogue from all sides. What’s yours?”

Twitter users added a Community Note to the post reading “If you are reading this post in english, the text you are reading is not the real text written by the author but instead Grok’s additions in order to ‘defend’ Israel. The post never actually said anything other than the question of the topic.”

Someone removed Grok’s propagandistic translation after outcry on the platform, but the Community Note remains.

https://thefreethoughtproject.com/information-war/three-recent-examples-of-ai-being-used-for-empire-propaganda

Senate Candidate Barry Christian Found Dead In Vehicle

Republican Oklahoma State Senate candidate Barry Christian was found dead in his car two days after he was reported missing. He was 54.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) issued a statement Thursday on X confirming Christian had been located and found deceased.

“On April 29, the Sayre Police Department received a report regarding 54-year-old Barry Christian, who was last seen on April 28 in Sayre, Oklahoma,” they wrote.

Their statement continued, “On the morning of April 30, around 9:45 a.m., Christian’s vehicle was discovered by Beckham County deputies in the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, just south of Erick, Oklahoma.”

Christian was one of three candidates running in the Republican primary for District 38 of the Oklahoma State Senate.

OSBI special agents processed the scene and discovered Christian deceased inside the vehicle. The Chief Medical Examiner is working to determine the cause and manner of death, the OSBI stated.

“Please pray for our family and friends. Our world is upside down right now,” Christian’s daughter, Brooklyn, said in a statement issued to News 9.

“We are still not sure of everything that happened, so please act with grace and treat my dad’s legacy with dignity.”

Brooklyn thanked those involved in the search for her father before saying, ” I know there will be lots of people devastated by his passing.”

Christian’s youngest daughter told the outlet that her father “wanted nothing more than to provide and protect his family. He lived only for his kids. He loved his kid with everything in him.”

https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/01/republican-state-senate-candidate-barry-christian-found-dead-vehicle-missing-person-oklahoma/

Trump should focus on America - hypocrite

Trump Tells German Chancellor Merz ‘Fix Your Broken Country,’ Mulls Pulling U.S. Troops from Spain and Italy

President Donald Trump on Thursday urged German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to focus on fixing his own “broken” country instead of interfering with American actions against Iran.

In pointed remarks warning Chancellor Merz and other European critics off getting too involved, President Trump also revealed that he is considering pulling U.S. troops out of Spain and Italy in addition to those stationed in Germany over the three NATO-members’ lack of support of the United States’ military operation against the rogue Iran Islamic regime and its nuclear threat.

Merz, during a school event in Marsberg North Rhine-Westphalia, claimed earlier this week that Iran is “humiliating” the United States by stalling negotiations between both countries. The German chancellor reportedly said that the United States appears to lack a “clear strategy” to end the war. German outlets reported that, hours later, Merz confided during a private parliamentary meeting that he has become “disillusioned” with the actions of the United States and Israel against Iran.

In a Thursday Truth Social post, President Trump called upon Merz to focus on dealing with Germany’s immigration and energy issues instead of interfering with those dealing with Iran.

“The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place!” President Trump wrote.

Hours later, speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump reiterated his criticism of Merz and noted Germany faces immigration, energy, and other “problems of all kind,” including Ukraine. Trump referred to Europe’s lack of help at the Strait of Hormuz, and noted that they make use of the oil trade route, unlike the U.S.

“And he [Merz] criticized me for doing the whole thing with Iran. But I said, ‘Would you like to have a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran?’ He said, ‘No, I don’t.’ I said, ‘Well, then, I guess I’m right.’ He didn’t had any answer to that,” President Trump said.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2049940506306564217

Melissa Hortman, state representative of Minnesota, was assassinated 5 days after she broke ranks with state Democrats and voted to end healthcare services for undocumented immigrants

Melissa Hortman, a top Minnesota state representative and former House Speaker, was assassinated at her home on June 14 2025. That was exactly five days after she broke ranks with fellow Democrats on June 9 and cast the lone DFL vote to pass a bill ending MinnesotaCare eligibility for undocumented adults.

She and her husband Mark were shot and killed in what authorities called a politically motivated attack. The suspect Vance Boelter was later arrested and charged.

Vance Boelter Indicted for the Murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the Shootings of John and Yvette Hoffman, and the Attempted Shooting of Hope Hoffman

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS – Vance Boelter, 57, has been indicted on six federal charges in connection with the stalking and murders of Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, the stalking and shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, and the attempted shooting of their daughter Hope Hoffman, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

“Vance Boelter planned and carried out a night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “He carried out targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota. We grieve with the Hortman family and continue to pray for the recovery of the Hoffmans. Today, a grand jury indicted Boelter with the most serious of federal charges for these heinous political assassinations. Let me be clear: Boelter will see justice.”

According to court documents, after extensive research and planning, Boelter embarked on a murderous rampage targeting Minnesota’s elected officials and their families. On June 14, 2025, the defendant disguised himself as a member of law enforcement and traveled to the homes of Democratic elected officials with the intent to intimidate and murder. Early that morning, the defendant traveled to the Hoffmans home in Champlin, Minnesota. By posing as a police officer, Boelter compelled the Hoffmans to answer their door. He then repeatedly shot Senator Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman and he attempted to shoot their daughter, Hope Hoffman.

Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, only to find that no one at those locations was home. He next drove to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman. There, Boelter repeatedly shot, and killed, Representative Hortman and her husband, Mark. Following a two-day manhunt, law enforcement arrested the defendant near his family residence in Green Isle, Minnesota.

The defendant is charged with numerous counts, including the stalking and murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the stalking and shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman, and the attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman. The defendant faces charges which include maximum penalties of up to life in prison or death.

“Last month, the State of Minnesota experienced fear and panic. Today, Vance Boelter was indicted by a federal grand jury, marking another step forward in our pursuit of justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “As alleged in the indictment, Boelter’s actions took the lives of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, both beloved members of our community. The indictment also alleges that Boelter seriously wounded Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. This targeted violence was an attack on the rule of law, resulting in a manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly until Boelter was apprehended. The FBI remains grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their dedication throughout this investigation. Together, we will ensure that justice is served and that a price is paid for the reign of terror and violence our community endured.”

https://citizenwatchreport.com/melissa-hortman-state-representative-of-minnesota-was-assassinated-5-days-after-she-broke-ranks-with-state-democrats-and-voted-to-end-healthcare-services-for-undocumented-immigrants/

The City of Phoenix announces they are preparing for new water restrictions, including charging people who use a lot of water due to a shortage of water

Residents will be on water restrictions, meanwhile Arizona has allowed 24 data centers to be built, with roughly 30 more being planned

Arizona is experiencing a major data center boom

The shortage of water is due to serious cuts to the Colorado river water supply

“The City of Phoenix is anticipating serious cuts to our water supply from the Colorado River — We cannot conserve our way out of the problem of this magnitude.

The Water Services Department announced by the end of the year, Phoenix will likely enter stage 2 of the plan where they will have to use backup water supplies to meet demand. It may include things like additional conservation education, expansion of water audits, incentives and rebates to ensure efficient use of water”

“It could also bring surcharges, meaning if someone uses more water than what they are allocated, they could face additional charges for it.”

But Arizona lawmakers are allowing 30-50+ data centers

Make it make sense

https://x.com/i/status/2050213660442710026

>>24562075

https://www.antiwar.com/

COVER UP: FBI Surveillance Video Just DROPPED—Secret Service Agent CAUGHT Watching Shooter Ditch Coat & Ready Weapon… Then Just WALKS Away 👀

I just analyzed the "newly released" FBI surveillance footage of Cole Thomas Allen at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and something is NOT adding up. We are being gaslit by the mainstream media, and I have the receipts to prove it.

🚩THE TWO MASSIVE RED FLAGS🚩

1 First lets look at the first 16 seconds of the raw footage. A Secret Service agent—K9 in hand—follows Allen directly to a storage room. Allen walks in casually in a trench coat. The agent stands in the doorway, eyes locked on him for 10 full seconds. During that window, Allen is ditching the coat and readying his weapon. The second the agent turns to walk away, Allen bursts out and rushes the metal detectors. How does a trained agent miss a man readying a firearm three feet in front of him? Is this incompetence, or collusion?

2 Secondly Every single major network—Fox, CNN, MSNBC—is playing the same 10-second loop of Allen running through the lobby with the gun. They’ve scrubbed the first 16 seconds. They don’t want you to see the agent standing there. They don’t want you to ask why he wasn't stopped before he ever reached the lobby.

Why is the media protecting the narrative that this was a "security breach" instead of showing the full video that suggests a security escort?🤔

Was this SS Agent colluding with the suspect or part of a larger conspiracy? 😮

We deserve transparency, not edited clips. We’ve seen this playbook before with the Charlie Kirk case—crop the video, control the story. Not this time.

What do you see in the footage? Let me know in the comments. We need to make this go viral. 👇

https://x.com/i/status/2050100986744590380

Police arrest Jewish man for attacking French nun at Jerusalem biblical site, release video of vicious assault

Suspect detained after Mount Zion attack that left sister with bruised face; amid outcry, police say they treat assaults on clergy with ‘utmost severity’

Police said Wednesday they had arrested a Jewish man suspected of assaulting a French nun in Jerusalem the previous day, saying they had a zero-tolerance policy on attacks against religious figures.

“The suspect, a 36-year-old male, was identified and subsequently arrested by police,” the force said in a statement, adding it viewed with “utmost severity” any violent act “driven by potentially racist motives and directed toward members of the clergy.”

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, the same day as the attack.

On Thursday, police released footage of the assault, which showed the suspect running up from behind the nun and shoving her to the ground.

The suspect, who is wearing the tzitzit Jewish ritual men’s undergarment, is then seen walking away before returning to kick the woman while she is still lying on the ground.

The man then scuffles briefly with a passerby, who appears to attempt to intervene in the assault.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2049914159349875020

Father Olivier Poquillon, director of Jerusalem’s French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, told AFP the 48-year-old nun was a researcher at the institution and does not wish to speak publicly.

“Yesterday, around 5:45 p.m. (1445 GMT) … she felt someone come up behind her and throw her with full force onto a rock,” Poquillon said, describing Tuesday’s attack.

“While the sister was on the ground, the man began to kick her repeatedly,” he said.

The assault occurred in front of the Cenacle, a building on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion considered holy to both Christians and Jews, the latter of whom regard it as the burial place of the biblical figure King David.

Footage shared by police showed bruises on the right side of the nun’s face.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-man-suspected-of-attacking-french-nun-at-jerusalem-biblical-site/

Wow new Iranian style Epstein Files LEGO Storytelling Music Video is heavy 😢😟😞

via Lego_AI_X

https://twitter.com/i/status/2049976288354476330

Israel to pour $730m into propaganda arm amid reputational crisis

Global support for Israel drops sharply as criticism mounts over genocide, apartheid and regional wars

Israel is preparing to spend nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars on its propaganda arm as it seeks to counter a worsening global image shaped by the genocide in Gaza and regional wars, according to its national budget passed in March.

First reported by The Jerusalem Post, a total of $730m has been allocated to the national public diplomacy directorate, known by its Hebrew name Hasbara, which oversees Israeli propaganda.

The figure marks a sharp increase from the $150m set aside the previous year, which had already surged to roughly 20 times pre-2023 levels.

The scale of the spending points to an intensified effort to improve Israel’s international standing as negative perceptions grow, including in allied countries such as the United States.

Israel has been widely accused of genocide in the Gaza Strip, where its forces have killed and injured more than 250,000 Palestinians since October 2023 and starved 2.3 million people. The country has also been accused of creating an apartheid system in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has additionally drawn criticism for belligerent acts in Syria, Lebanon, Qatar and most recently the wars on Iran.

Earlier this year, Israel faced intensifying scrutiny over links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who has been suspected of ties to Mossad. Israel has denied the accusations.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, while Israel confronts genocide charges at the International Court of Justice.

In the US, Israel's closest ally, Israel has been accused of drawing Washingon into the war with Iran, which triggered global economic disruption.

A Pew Research Center poll published in April found that 60 percent of Americans now view Israel unfavourably, a sharp rise over the past year, while favourable views have dropped to 37 percent.

The shift cuts across political and religious lines. Among Republicans under 50, a majority now hold negative views of Israel. Support has also fallen among Black Protestants, Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated. Even among American Jews, backing has slipped below two-thirds.

'Creeping economic boycott'

Alongside the budget increase, Israel’s foreign ministry has expanded its messaging apparatus. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has overseen the creation of a dedicated unit tasked with shaping international narratives.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-pour-730m-propaganda-gaza-genocide-iran-war-turns-it-pariah

Leaked audios reveal pro-Israel groups 'paid' for US pardon of convicted drug trafficker Juan Orlando Hernandez

The former Honduran president revealed Benjamin Netanyahu 'had everything to do' with his release from a high-security US federal prison last year

WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram audio messages published by Canal RED and Hondurasgate on 29 April reveal pro-Israel groups “paid” for the release of former Honduran president and convicted drug trafficker Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) from US federal prison last year.

“The pardon money … came from a board of rabbis and people who supported Israel, and they had previously supported Yani Rosenthal,” JOH is heard saying in the leaked audios.

Yani Rosenthal is the former president of the right-wing Liberal Party of Honduras. He was convicted in December 2017 of laundering drug proceeds for a prominent Honduran drug cartel.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2049589692295684274

"We have deprived the Palestinian hostages in our prisons of everything, and now we want to take their lives."

Someone needs to arrest this man now.

https://x.com/i/status/2049910664659894761

Its always a good day to talk about how Israel is inventing ancient history - but this week (with the news from Arizona) is an especially good week for it.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2049811117426274774

Canada's Culture Minister: Regulating Online Content A Duty Of Federal Government

Culture Minister Marc Miller says the federal government has the role of regulating content on the internet and that Canada is years behind other countries when it comes to regulating “online harms.”

Miller told reporters on Parliament Hill April 29 that when it comes to the regulation of online content and social media, that role is “assumed by the federal government, whether we’re talking about moratoriums or the proper regulation of egregious online harms.”

“That’s stuff that we’re, frankly, a couple years behind in regulating, as we see other jurisdictions like Australia, like Britain, like France taking action,” Miller said, as was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter. “We need to take action as well.”

Asked to comment on when the government plans on tabling a new online harms bill, Miller said “we’re working on it” and declined to share a timeline.

Miller told reporters earlier this month that a new online harms legislation is in the works and the government is “seriously” thinking about adding a social media ban for children to the bill, but did not provide a status or timeline for the introduction of the legislation then either.

The upcoming legislation will be the government’s third attempt to legislate on “online harms,” following previous proposals in 2021 and 2024, neither of which passed before Parliament was dissolved. Conservatives and civil liberties advocates had criticized both bills as posing a risk to freedom of expression.

In March, the federal government reconvened the same group of experts first formed in 2022 that made recommendations to the government on how to address online content deemed to be harmful, which led to Bill C-63.

The department of industry said in a recent report to the Senate social affairs committee that Ottawa is examining a “future online safety regime” meant to reduce content deemed as being harmful, such as hateful content and cyberbullying on large platforms.

“To advise on this proposal, the government has recently reconvened the Expert Advisory Group on Online Safety whose members previously contributed to the development of online harms legislation, to engage on new and emerging issues related to online harms,” the department said.

“Any future legislative proposal would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny, and details will be made public at the appropriate time.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/canadas-culture-minister-regulating-online-content-duty-federal-government

Justice Department sues New Jersey for granting tuition support for illegals but not citizens

The laws are discriminate against U.S. citizens who aren't granted the same tuition rates, scholarships and other subsidies, which is unconstitutional, the complainant argues.

The Justice Department has filed a complaint against New Jersey laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance to illegal immigrants.

The laws discriminate against U.S. citizens who aren't granted the same tuition rates, scholarships and other subsidies, which is unconstitutional, according to the complaint.

“Imagine being denied the opportunity of education in your own country. By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, the state of New Jersey is doing just that," Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said that the agency wouldn't tolerate U.S. citizens who are being treated like "second-class citizens in their own country."

“This is a simple matter of federal law: in New Jersey and nationwide, colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens," he said.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/justice-department-sues-new-jersey-granting-tuition-support-illegals-not

Ben Shapiro tells a Chabad synagogue it will be a "disaster" if Trump doesn't "pull the trigger" and unleash our "massive arsenal" against Iran.

https://x.com/i/status/2050270360910561396

Virginia-Based Naval Serviceman Charged for Transporting Lafayette-Area Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

LAFAYETTE – On April 30, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana charged Sadiq Rauf Perry, a 27-year-old Virginia-based naval serviceman, by criminal complaint with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Perry faces 10 years up to life in federal prison for the charge.

“This case is every parent’s worst nightmare, and our Office deeply appreciates our law enforcement partners’ quick action that led to the recovery of this minor girl. The case is also a reminder to every parent that we must not only be vigilant in our children’s use of the Internet but must also act quickly to report situations where a child may be taken in by one of these predators,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The tragedy of these cases is that the criminal acts are not something we can take away or undo. That said, we look forward to prosecuting this matter to the fullest extent of the law to ensure accountability and deterrence for these heinous acts and remind our community of the importance of being vigilant as parents and neighbors.”

"The FBI worked closely with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office to find this teen and bring her home safely," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "It is critical for parents and children to understand the dangers of communicating with strangers online. In this case, the family acted quickly and that helped us prevent what could have been a tragic outcome."

As alleged in court documents, this case arose from a parent reporting her 14-year-old daughter to have run away from home after the mother found her engaging in inappropriate communications with someone online claiming to be 18 years old. Shortly after taking her phone and grounding her, the parent realized her daughter to be gone. Law enforcement found that a rideshare transported the 14-year-old to the airport, and she boarded a flight for Norfolk, VA. Both the rideshare and airline flight were purchased by Perry. Perry ensured the minor victim would be able to board the flight without suspicion by providing a fictitious date of birth for her that falsely represented her to be old enough to travel unaccompanied.

Law enforcement secured video surveillance showing the minor to have flown from Lafayette to Virginia and to have been picked up by Perry, who was driving a vehicle registered to him. Law enforcement tracked Perry to a hotel where law enforcement found both Perry and the minor sharing a room with one bed. The minor later disclosed that Perry and she had sexual intercourse at the hotel.

This case is being investigated by the New Orleans and Norfolk Field Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Virginia Beach Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Sarver with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/virginia-based-naval-serviceman-charged-transporting-lafayette-area-minor-engage

Pharmacy Technician Pleads Guilty to $5.6M Health Care Fraud Scheme and Illegal Distribution of Oxycodone

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/pharmacy-technician-pleads-guilty-56m-health-care-fraud-scheme-and-illegal

25 Defendants Convicted in International $215M Scam That Targeted 1,000+ Victims

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/25-defendants-convicted-international-215m-scam-targeted-1000-victims

Former Executive Director at Virgina-based University Sentenced for Fraud

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/former-executive-director-virgina-based-university-sentenced-fraud

Ten Rabbis Arrested in NYC Jewish Protest Against ICE

Around 150 people participated in the rally, titled 'Jews Demand: ICE Out!', including Congressional candidate Brad Lander. Demonstrators called for New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to pass a bill to prevent local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE

Around 150 people participated in the rally in front of Federal Plaza titled "Jews Demand: ICE Out!", including Congressional candidate Brad Lander. Demonstrators called for New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to pass the New York For All Act, which would prevent local law enforcement and government agencies from collaborating with ICE.

The event, spearheaded by Jewish groups the Bend the Arc: Jewish Action and T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, set out to highlight "Jewish opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's cruel and destructive immigration enforcement system," organizers said.

According to T'ruah CEO Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the "Day of Action" took place in 17 cities across the United States, including Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Boston, Denver and San Diego.

"Today, we showed the world that rabbis and American Jews are united against ICE's cruel enforcement practices and completely reject an immigration system that dehumanizes people," Jacobs said. "There is a better way, and we can get there together. "

"Trump and Congressional Republicans are trying to funnel 140 billion more dollars to ICE and Border Patrol at a time when Americans are struggling to stay housed, stay fed, stay employed, and stay healthy," said Jamie Beran, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. "But we won't look away, we won't be silent, and we will continue to fight back."

https://archive.md/iPGv7

https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-05-01/ty-article/.premium/ten-rabbis-arrested-in-nyc-jewish-protest-against-ice/0000019d-e41b-d9bc-a5bf-ee3b7f660000

Trump Letter: Doesn't Need Congressional Approval As Ceasefire Has 'Terminated' Conflict

In an acknowledgement that his anti-Iran Operation Epic Fury has indeed hit 60 days, President Trump has issued a formal letter to Congress which argues he does not need their authorization for war. He is arguing the current ceasefire has in effect 'terminated' the conflict. Below are his main points via NBC [emphasis by ZH]:

"On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated," Trump wrote in the letters, one of which went to the House and one of which went to the Senate.

"Despite the success of United States operations against the Iranian regime and continued efforts to secure a lasting peace, the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant," the president added in the letter, promising to keep congressional leaders updated on further developments in Iran.

"I have and will continue to direct United States Armed Forces consistent with my responsibilities and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive," the president wrote in his letter.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2050252327253102912