Wales state bank tallies 50,000 jobs, and the math actually checks out

Since 2017, the Development Bank of Wales says it has invested £1 billion across equity, debt, and property, backing 5,184 deals in 4,699 businesses and unlocking a further £636 million in private co-finance. It pegs jobs-based GVA at £5.8 billion, nearly six times the cash put in. Funding reached £240.4 million in the north, £323.4 million in mid and west, and £436.5 million in the south east, with £564 million in debt, £138 million in equity, and £298 million in property. Highlights include £89 million into 292 tech ventures and £275 million to build 2,302 homes. Examples range from green upgrades at Thorncliffe Building Supplies and support for Reacta Healthcare to Swansea’s LITELOK and Treforest’s Laser Wire Solutions. For a government bank, this looks refreshingly like results rather than adjectives.

Bundeswehr runs combat drills in Berlin’s subway, because trouble does not always wait on the surface

German troops kicked off a five-day urban warfare exercise in the U-Bahn to practice rapid deployment and protecting critical infrastructure. Picture helmets on the platform and rehearsed sprints between trains, a message that if sabotage ever rides the rails, the Bundeswehr plans to be waiting at the next stop.

Dave Bossie wants the Senate filibuster scrapped or sweated into submission

Backing Donald Trump, Bossie urges Majority Leader John Thune to kill the 60-vote rule or enforce marathon talkathons and surprise quorum calls ahead of a January 30, 2026 funding deadline he says Democrats will weaponize. He blames Senate Democrats for obstruction and promises a fast lane for voter ID, citizen-only census counts, proof-of-citizenship voting rules, a late-term abortion ban, leaner bureaucracy, and a ban on congressional insider trading. In short, either end the filibuster or make it a StairMaster, while the Senate pretends it is a gym.

Gething allies clinch top Cardiff list slots, proving loyalty is the house band

Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas tops Labour’s closed list for the new Caerdydd Penarth super-constituency, with Vale of Glamorgan councillor Ruba Sivagnanam in second. Polling suggests Labour could win one, possibly two seats, which may send both allies of former First Minister Vaughan Gething to the Senedd despite his four-month tenure ending amid a donor controversy and accusations about deleted pandemic texts and misleading the Covid Inquiry. Sivagnanam previously drew fire for alleging racist motives by Welsh media, claims the outlet rejected. In Cardiff Labour’s musical chairs, loyalty keeps the beat and the band plays on.

GameStop Sets ‘Trade Anything Day’ for Dec. 6: What to Know About the Holiday Promotion

GameStop Sets ‘Trade Anything Day’ for Dec. 6: the retailer says that on Saturday, Dec. 6, customers can bring in almost anything and trade it for store credit. Yes, it’s real—turn your junk drawer into joystick money and call it holiday cheer.

As longevity and health improve, nursing education must adapt to prevent ageism

As longevity and health improve, nursing education must adapt to prevent ageism—because in New Zealand, life expectancy has leapt from 68 in 1970 to over 80 today, yet too much training still treats anyone 65+ like a walking fall risk. Ageism is warping care: nearly 60% of health professionals admit to age-based assumptions, genuine symptoms get waved off as “just aging,” older adults are under-treated, and some services quietly exclude them. Education helps bake this in. Case studies fixate on dementia, falls, and end-of-life, rarely showing active, resilient older adults. First-year students are funneled into aged residential care—home to the frailest 7%—telegraphing that older people equal dependency and that the work is “basic.” Students report conveyor-belt conditions, understaffing, poor pay, and a stigma that aged care hurts careers. The fix is not rocket science: redesign curricula to reflect the full spectrum of later life, diversify placements, build intergenerational empathy, and treat ageism as a social determinant of health—especially for Māori, Pacific, and rainbow communities. If we want age-ready healthcare, we need age-smart education.

Across more than 100 issues, Quarterly Essay has sparked news, controversy, and the occasional explosive moment

Across more than 100 issues, Quarterly Essay has sparked news, controversy, and the occasional explosive moment—and somehow done it with 25,000-word arguments in the publishers’ supposed “dead zone” between article and book. Born in 2001 and now marking its century with Sean Kelly’s The Good Fight: What does Labor stand for?, the Black Inc. series has repeatedly set the agenda: David Marr’s 2010 profile of Kevin Rudd opened with that infamously profane post-Copenhagen outburst and helped crystallize doubts before Rudd’s ouster; his 2012 take on Tony Abbott lit up debate with an allegation Abbott denied but couldn’t quite shake.

Against the gospel of “innovate or die,” this mostly-print project keeps selling like an antidote to daily bloviation—10,000 to 23,000 copies per issue, 8,000 subscribers, now with e-books for the attention-span-challenged. It’s won Walkleys, drawn marquee writers from Tim Flannery to Don Watson, and tackled everything from Murdoch’s influence to the NDIS, climate, the Murray–Darling, and the pandemic—proof that research and an actual argument still count for something.

It’s not flawless: early issues were a boys’ club and the tally still leans 65 men to 35 women, and critics sniff a house imprint vibe. But when a country can lose Meanjin in a fog of baffling bureaucracy, a forum that makes politicians and power brokers squirm—and readers think—isn’t just valuable; it’s necessary. Remarkable, really: in an age of hot takes, a quarterly keeps winning by serving them cold, considered, and occasionally explosive.

Burglar jailed after cutting himself a birthday cake and stealing a golden Quran during break-in

Burglar jailed after cutting himself a birthday cake and stealing a golden Quran during break-in: Police say 33-year-old Dillon Currie, who also goes by Abeeb Hussain, was caught on CCTV smashing into a Peterborough home on July 26, swiping a Samsung phone and pausing for a slice of birthday cake. Thirty minutes later he burgled a second house for groceries—leaving his DNA on a cigarette butt—and the next day climbed through an open window to nab a 50-inch TV, kitchen knives and a gold-coloured copy of the Quran. Officers identified him on camera and arrested him on August 1, finding the stolen Quran still on him; he pleaded guilty to three burglaries at Cambridge Crown Court. He’s now serving two years and two months, with police calling his audacity “mind boggling” and noting the psychological toll on victims.

Jaguar Land Rover Says Cyberattack Cost $260 Million

Jaguar Land Rover tallied a $260 million hit from a September breach claimed by a crew styling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters. The carmaker says production is back to normal, which is a nice reminder that you can reboot an assembly line faster than you can patch a security lapse. The bill, however, still looks like a luxury trim package nobody ordered.

Watchdog Flags Security Flaws in NIH Genomics Project

An Inspector General audit found weak access controls in an NIH genomics effort that could have exposed the health and genetic data of 1 million Americans, including to foreign adversaries. NIH says fixes are underway, a bit like upgrading the lock after noticing the door was mostly decorative. At least the hardware is finally getting installed.

Quantum Q-Day Warnings Grow as Readiness Lags

Cybersecurity leaders warn quantum advances are outpacing global preparedness. The same machines promising breakthroughs in medicine and finance could bulldoze the cryptography guarding communications, digital signatures, and transactions. Translation, the future is flooring it, and our security is still patting its pockets for the keys.

Thailand Detains Alleged Russian Hacker After FBI Tip

Thai authorities arrested a Russian citizen suspected of launching global cyberattacks, following an FBI lead. Officials have not named him, but his age aligns with a Russian military intelligence officer indicted by the United States for 2016 election interference. Thai police are holding the suspect, and the geopolitical eyebrow-raising has begun. Nothing says plausible deniability like a long flight to Bangkok.

VMware Admits Years of Overbuilt vSAN Guidance

VMware acknowledged its vSAN hardware requirements overshot the mark, nudging customers toward overbuilt, overpriced storage rigs. VCF users suffering bill shock may see relief as the specs are corrected. An apology that could actually shave zeros off an invoice, for once, is a welcome software update.

Trump Hosts Saudi Crown Prince as Business and Diplomacy Intertwine

Former President Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington as Riyadh seeks defense and AI cooperation, while the Trump Organization pursues a role in Saudi Arabia’s $63 billion Diriyah luxury redevelopment. Trump pushed for Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords and praised the kingdom as a great ally, also touting F-35 sales hours before the meeting. He says he is not benefiting from his businesses while in office, yet tours of Saudi projects, fresh plans for upscale hotels and plazas, and watchdog warnings about conflicts of interest keep the ethics alarms blaring, despite Eric Trump’s claim of no interaction with Washington. Critics note past foreign payments to Trump properties and call the current courtship a national security yard sale with velvet ropes. The optics are especially thorny given MBS’s last US visit preceded the Khashoggi killing and Saudi leaders still proclaim unwavering support for Palestinian rights even as Washington presses normalization with Israel. Diplomacy meets dealmaking, and everyone insists it is a coincidence, what a relief.

Trump touts DC meeting with Zohran Mamdani, date TBD

Donald Trump says he will sit down with New York politician Zohran Mamdani in Washington, timing to be determined. The calendar, apparently, is playing coy while the optics get their hair done.

Acting FEMA chief David Richardson to step down after hurricane season

Richardson will exit in two weeks, after the November 30 end of hurricane season. Bold strategy, resigning when the radar is finally quiet and the press conference podium is no longer floating by.

Live-action Legend of Zelda begins filming, first photos tease the quest

Creator Shigeru Miyamoto says the adaptation of the 1986 classic is officially in production. May the Triforce grant a strong script, a distinct style, and the courage to resist cheap fan service.

Trump pitches World Cup 2026 visa fast track for ticket holders

Standing with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office, Trump floated a FIFA Pass that would prioritize visa appointments for fans with tickets. Nothing says border policy like show us your seat number while everyone else keeps refreshing the consulate calendar.

Mike Pompeo joins board of Ukrainian drone and missile maker under investigation

The former Secretary of State and ex CIA Director has joined the advisory board of Kyiv-based Fire Point, a major producer of drones and missiles, even as the firm faces a corruption probe. The revolving door got its steps in today.

Four cheetah cubs born at Smithsonian conservation facility

The National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute announced first-time mom Amabala delivered a healthy quartet last month. A rare burst of swift, spotted good news.

New flash Joule heating method quickly recovers metals from spent lithium batteries

Rice University researchers unveiled a two-step FJH chlorination and oxidation process that rapidly separates lithium and transition metals without acid baths. An energy saver that puts the dunk-it-in-acid era on notice as EVs chew through batteries like popcorn.

AI model flags short videos that may trigger suicidal thoughts

A study in Information Systems Research presents a medically informed system that can identify high-risk clips in real time. If adopted, it could help platforms intervene earlier and slow a harmful trend that algorithms have too often amplified.

Austria debuts compact plant that pulls CO2 from air at record low energy cost

The newly commissioned Pilot Unit 1 captures about 50 tons of CO2 per year at under 2,000 kWh per ton. Pair it with clean power and serious scaling, and this boutique carbon vacuum might actually matter.

Bernie Kosar says liver transplant was successful

The former Miami and Cleveland Browns quarterback reported that his surgery went well. A welcome bit of good news for a beloved signal-caller and the fans pulling for him.

Homemade Spinthariscope Shows Radioactive Decay, Old Toy Still Has It

A retro build with a zinc sulfide screen and the americium-241 capsule from a smoke detector lets you watch tiny flashes from alpha particles, safely corralled by the source. Too faint for a phone, a photomultiplier and scope reveal the flurry like a starfield. Cloud chambers win the school science fair, but scintillators are how the pros do it, from pocket gamma gadgets to cavern neutrino hunts. Score one for vintage curiosity, minus the mercury and performative bravado.

Lions Put the Tush Push in Reverse, Five Times

Detroit showed the so-called cheat code is just a rugby shove that brains and leverage can beat, yanking Jalen Hurts backward, timing the linebacker thump, and even counter-shoving their own lineman into the surge. Philly snapped with a backup center, Brett Toth, and even Nick Sirianni tipped his cap with a respectful nod. The only unstoppable force was inventive officiating, complete with a phantom false start while a defender flirted with the neutral zone. Keep it legal, let the trenches decide, and save the pearl clutching.

Two-Year-Old Dies After Fall From 20th Floor in New Jersey

Authorities say a child reportedly fell from a 20th story window and was pronounced dead. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances. No additional details have been released. A profoundly tragic event. No speculation, only sympathy for the family and neighbors.

Alana Stewart’s Awkward Cameo at Farrah Fawcett Foundation Event

Alana Stewart turned up at a fundraiser honoring Farrah Fawcett, a choice with optics so sharp you could cut them with a plastic fork given the long, messy history involving Ryan O’Neal. Peak celebrity chutzpah, where the red carpet doubles as a tightrope.

Philadelphia High-Rise Fire Forces Evacuations

Residents were told by building staff to make alternative arrangements and stay elsewhere until further notice after a fire triggered an evacuation. Details on damage and injuries were not immediately available. Serious situation, and a reminder that preparedness beats bravado every time.

Sentencing Set for Off-Duty Pilot Who Tried to Shut Down Plane Engines

A former Alaska Airlines pilot who allegedly attempted to cut the engines of a 2023 flight while riding in the cockpit jumpseat is due for federal sentencing Monday. The case is a stark line between cockpit trust and catastrophe, and an argument for rigorous screening that is more than a checklist.

Saudi Sovereign Fund Seen Leading Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has reportedly jumped to the front of a frenzied bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, after unsolicited offers spurred talk of a split into entertainment and news or sports. David Zaslav is juggling suitors, including a rejected Paramount Skydance cash bid near 24 dollars a share, Comcast sniffing around a PIF partnership, and tech giants kicking the tires. A PIF takeover would park Warner Bros., HBO, CNN, Discovery, and DC under one roof. Great for synergy slides, dicey for editorial independence. Any sale would face approval in Washington under the Trump administration and probing in Europe, where a Saudi-led purchase of a major U.S. media company would light up national security radars. Hollywood loves a cliffhanger. This one stars sovereign wealth, features tech in a supporting role, and leaves regulators with final cut.

Linux kernel sets house rules for AI assisted code

NVIDIA's Sasha Levin floated v3 guidelines on the mailing list that require disclosing AI assistance and using Co-developed-by tags for traceability, with explicit guidance for tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude. Linus Torvalds, practical as ever, says treat AI like any other coding aid, no special copyright halos, no panic, just an extension of the developer. The goal is to prevent AI creep by standardizing submissions before chaos becomes a feature. Maintainers already use LLMs as novice interns for drudgery, freeing veterans for the hard stuff. The stance could become a template for other Linux Foundation projects. Recent kernel releases also deliver performance gains that help AI workloads. Translation, keep the robots, label their homework, and do not let them run the class.

Pompeo joins advisory board of Ukraine defense giant amid probe optics

Mike Pompeo has been named to the advisory board of Fire Point, Ukraine's largest defense firm, just as an anti corruption investigation reportedly examines the Flamingo missile producer for possible ties to a large scheme. Even for a former secretary of state, that is some timing, advising a defense heavyweight while the sector is under a microscope. The optics could set off more alarms than a missile test, and the conflict of interest questions write themselves.

More Americans fall behind on utility bills, economy's warning light blinks

New consumer data show a rising number of households slipping on electric and heating payments, a red flag for the broader economy and a political migraine for President Donald Trump. Nothing says booming economy like choosing which bill to ignore to keep the lights on.

Pennsylvania hemp growers warn federal budget could kneecap industry

The state signed its budget without legalizing recreational marijuana. Medical cannabis remains legal, but hemp producers say Washington's math threatens to starve a legal sector they built from scratch. Why nurture an emerging crop when you can whack it with line items and call it fiscal discipline.

U.S. signals possible talks with Maduro while parking carrier in Caribbean

Trump says the United States may be having discussions with Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro as an aircraft carrier arrives in the region. It is a two track approach, diplomacy paired with very visible air cover, the international relations version of a smile alongside a flexed bicep.

Alpha gal syndrome warning after fatal red meat reaction

A 47 year old New Jersey man reportedly died after a hamburger triggered alpha gal syndrome, a rare but rising allergy linked to tick bites. Researchers at the University of Virginia say it is the first known fatality tied to a meal trigger. For Pennsylvanians and anyone in tick country, the guidance is straightforward, avoid tick exposure, check for bites, and seek medical care if you have delayed allergic reactions after eating red meat. This is a serious public health reminder, not a curiosity.

Top 2026 lineman decommits from Penn State

Kevin Brown, a 6 foot 5, 285 pound four star offensive lineman from Harrisburg, backed off his pledge Sunday per Rivals reporter Hayes Fawcett. He was the highest ranked member of Penn State's 2026 class, now an empty chair at the recruiting banquet while the carousel keeps spinning.

Charlotte immigration raids turn violent as suspect rams officers during chase

Federal agents conducting an immigration enforcement operation near Charlotte’s University City area say a U.S. citizen accelerated a van at officers, fled through crowded streets, and repeatedly rammed law enforcement vehicles when boxed in. One officer was injured. A firearm was found in the van, and officials cite prior arrests for resisting law enforcement, public disturbance, and intoxication or disruptive conduct. The arrest came amid a broader sweep in Charlotte targeting public safety threats, months after a fatal light rail stabbing, with similar operations recently in California, Illinois, Oregon, and New York.

London braced for icy sleet as Arctic air sweeps the UK

BBC Weather says the capital gets a wintry slap early in the week. Prepare for airborne slush, slippery commutes, and the national sport of pretending this is all very character building while everyone quietly Googles thermal socks.

Illegal dumping near Kidlington triggers ecological disaster warning

A sprawling illegal tip in Oxfordshire has officials warning cleanup costs could exceed their entire budget. Criminal fly-tippers make money, the countryside gets trashed, and taxpayers pick up the tab. It is environmental policy by landfill, with crooks cashing in and enforcement looking like a scarecrow guarding a buffet.

After tariff deal with Washington, South Korean firms boost investment at home

Seoul credits a new tariff accord for a domestic investment push by major companies including Samsung. President Lee Jae Myung praised business for helping clinch the deal, then urged them to keep the cash working inside the country. Classic political two step, part victory lap, part gentle shove, while corporates hedge their bets and see which projects survive past the photo op.

Welsh independence debate moves from slogans to spreadsheets

As marchers rally in Barry, Swansea East MS Mike Hedges argues independence would likely mean higher taxes or thinner services unless the economy strengthens significantly. Citing IFS figures, he notes public spending in Wales is around 10 percent above the UK average while per person tax revenue is roughly 75 percent of it, leaving an annual net transfer of 12 to 15 billion pounds. He backs the UK’s redistributive model and says any referendum should follow hard answers on currency, a central bank, civil service shifts such as the DVLA, defense, customs with the rest of the UK, cross border tax, pensions, security, debt share, and VAT or duty alignment. After Brexit’s negotiate now, regret sooner tutorial, he challenges YesCymru to produce a credible economic case and a draft budget before anyone votes.

Eagles outlast Lions, hand out 10 awards and new reasons to argue

Philadelphia won again on Sunday, and somehow still gave fans a full buffet of complaints. Equal parts applause and side eye, it was joy earned the hard way, which is exactly the way Philly likes it. Expect victory Monday to sound like a debate club meeting about play calling.

Contactless Comes to 50 London Commuter Stations on December 14

Pay as you go tapping expands across the commuter belt, promising fewer queues and less ritual at ticket machines. A modest victory for convenience after years of wallet fishing and paper jams. Now if only punctuality could be activated with a tap, we would have a transport miracle.

Trump Urges House GOP to Release Epstein Records After Pressure Mounts

Speaking aboard Air Force One, he told the so called Fake News Media that Republicans should back disclosure, a sudden embrace of transparency arriving right on schedule once the heat got uncomfortably high. Washington loves sunlight, as long as someone else is standing in it.

O.J. Simpson Estate to Pay $58 Million to Ron Goldman’s Family

Representatives for the estate have agreed to the payout, according to ABC News, a long delayed step tied to the civil judgment in the wrongful death case. A sober coda to a case that never stopped echoing.

Microsoft Pitches AI Everywhere, Swears It Remembers What A Good OS Feels Like

Windows chief Pavan Davuluri touted an agentic OS that stitches devices, cloud, and AI for intelligent productivity, then helpfully disabled replies on X, the new benchmark for open conversation. After a veteran engineer blasted Windows as second choice for builders, Davuluri conceded the basics need work and promised fixes while shoveling more AI into Windows 11. Satya Nadella framed AI as a positive sum platform that grows the pie for everyone, citing Copilot and Agent HQ, while Elon Musk responded with a facepalm emoji, Silicon Valley’s preferred peer review. Net result, Microsoft wants AI in everything and vows to polish the toolbox so it stops acting like a chatbot wearing desktop icons.

High Winds Give Philadelphia a Holiday Stress Test

Gusts turned Center City into a wind tunnel and tailgates into endurance trials, yet crowds clung to festivities tighter than a lawn chair in a squall. Blustery, chaotic, and stubbornly cheerful, in other words, peak Philly.

Volunteer Linked to Pro CCP Content After Work for Zohran Mamdani Campaign

Eric Hovagim, a self described left wing YouTuber who says he volunteered on a few affordability themed videos for democratic socialist New York politician Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, now lives in China producing pro CCP content. From abroad he dismisses well documented reports of Uyghur repression as CIA revisionist propaganda, calls Tibet liberated, and claims most in Taiwan oppose independence, complete with pro military edits and a stop at a Uyghur restaurant as supposed proof all is well. He says he was never paid and interacted only with the video team, and the campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Nothing says I found safety and direction like trading a dying empire post for the comforts of a place where criticism is optional and consent is implied.

U.S. Strike in the Eastern Pacific Kills Three Suspected Narco-Terrorists

U.S. Strike in the Eastern Pacific Kills Three Suspected Narco-Terrorists, as U.S. Southern Command says a “lethal kinetic operation” hit a narcotics vessel in international waters tied to a designated terrorist group. The strike brings the campaign’s tally to 82 suspected narco-terrorists killed, with three survivors, in a months-long push targeting boats along known trafficking routes. Branded Operation Southern Spear—because nothing says policy like a gladiator name—the mission was announced by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after President Trump ordered action, and is run by SOUTHCOM and Joint Task Force Southern Spear. Recent attacks have destroyed submersibles, fishing boats, and high-speed craft linked to gangs like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Colombia’s ELN, drawing occasional diplomatic blowback. The Navy says it’s leaning on long-dwell robotic surface vessels, small interceptor boats, and VTOL drones—Silicon Valley meets the high seas—aimed at choking the flow of drugs bound for the U.S.

U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean exceed 20 as death toll surpasses 80

U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean exceed 20 as the death toll surpasses 80, with U.S. Southern Command confirming another “lethal kinetic” hit Saturday that killed three aboard a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in international waters along a known route in the Eastern Pacific. The Pentagon says 21 strikes over two months have killed 83 alleged “narco-terrorists,” part of “Operation Southern Spear,” launched amid a regional buildup and briefings to President Donald Trump that reportedly include options for land strikes against Venezuela. Caracas has mobilized 200,000 troops for exercises as President Nicolás Maduro accuses Washington of fabricating a pretext; the U.S. does not recognize his presidency. Officials cite seizures—including a late-September joint strike with the Dominican Republic that recovered more than a ton of cocaine—but other incidents involved fishermen, and Venezuelan authorities say some of the dead were civilians; a U.S. Coast Guard boarding of a tuna boat found no contraband. The administration argues it is in an armed conflict with cartels and labels the dead “unlawful combatants,” while critics in Congress and abroad push back; Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called Trump a “barbarian” and said he halted intelligence sharing. Trump himself recently called maritime interdictions “totally ineffective,” even as the Coast Guard reports record cocaine seizures. Two experts say Venezuela is neither a major producer nor trafficker, casting the strikes as political theater aimed at pressuring Maduro rather than curbing U.S. drug supply.

Democrats Reopen Government, Misplace Their ACA Bargaining Chip

Sen. Chris Murphy says Democrats blundered by reopening the government without securing an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire in January, a choice he argues could invite sharp premium hikes. Translation, they reopened the doors and left their leverage on the curb, right next to the looming rate increases. Congressional strategy by vibes, premiums by sticker shock.

U.S. Strike Kills Three on Suspected Narco-Trafficking Boat, Carrier Group Enters Caribbean

The U.S. military says it hit an alleged drug trafficking vessel in international waters, killing three people it described as narco terrorists tied to a designated group. A day later, the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group arrived in the Caribbean, a conspicuous show of force. The deaths are real, the message is unmistakable, and the delivery system weighs roughly 100,000 tons.

Kash Patel Touts China Pressure on Fentanyl, Promises Fast Results as Beijing Tightens Controls

On Sunday Morning Futures, Kash Patel credited Trump era pressure on Beijing and said the U.S. is close to turning off the fentanyl pipeline, calling China the main source of key precursors. He pointed to an FBI director visit to Beijing, he said the first by a bureau chief in a decade, and referenced DOJ and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said, in talks that listed 13 precursors and restricted seven chemicals. Days later, China’s Commerce Ministry announced tighter controls on fentanyl related chemicals, and Trump posted that Beijing pledged to help stem the flow. The stakes are grim, with NIH and CDC data pointing to more than 70,000 synthetic opioid deaths in both 2022 and 2023 and overdoses leading deaths for Americans under 45 last year. Lofty promises meet hard math, now Beijing’s paperwork has to outrun cartel chemistry.

Thousands in Crowborough Protest Plan to House Asylum Seekers as Home Office Scrambles

Roughly 2,000 residents marched against placing 540 single men at a former army camp in the East Sussex town, citing GP shortages, safety concerns near a firearms training site, and what organizers call unvetted arrivals. A previous meeting needed private security after local politicians were chased out, and Wealden District Council blamed a Home Office information vacuum for stoking anger. The Home Office apologized, says all residents will undergo checks and conduct briefings, and argues using military sites will end hotel stays before the next election. The Home Secretary is floating wider reforms like scrapping housing and weekly allowances and a 20 year path to settlement. Translation, jam tomorrow, camp today, and Westminster acts surprised when the crowd shouts Starmer out. Maybe try information first, improvisation later.