Trump has put Christian nationalists in key roles – say a prayer for free speech

Posted on by

Experts warn that a specific brand of Christianity will be prioritized and lead to a ‘further dismantling’ of institutions

The Trump administration’s promotion of white Christian nationalists and prosperity gospel preachers to key government roles will lead to the “further dismantling of government institutions” and the chilling of free speech, experts have warned.

Donald Trump announced the creation of an “anti-Christian bias” taskforce and a White House Faith Office (WHFO) in February, saying it would make recommendations to him “regarding changes to policies, programs, and practices” and consult with outside experts in “combatting anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and additional forms of anti-religious bias”.

Continue reading...

Doge unemployment ‘fraud’ discoveries are old finds from Biden era, experts say

Posted on by

Exclusive: Some aren’t even fraud but rather known attempts by states to protect victims of identity theft, former top official says

In a series of late-night posts on X last week, Elon Musk and his so-called “department of government efficiency” revealed the seemingly startling findings of their “initial survey” into unemployment benefits.

They cited examples of claimants who were deceased, between one and five years old, or not born yet. They even cited one case of someone with a listed birthday in 2154 allegedly claiming $41,000.

Continue reading...

Trump and Musk taking ‘hatchet’ to social security, says Biden | First Thing

Posted on by

Former president accuses Trump in first speech since leaving office. Plus, deadly Israeli strike hits second Gaza hospital this week

Good morning.

In his first speech since leaving the White House, Joe Biden accused Donald Trump and Elon Musk yesterday of “taking a hatchet” to social security, which he called a “sacred promise” that 73 million Americans rely on each month.

What else did Biden say? “In the 90 years since Franklin Roosevelt created the social security system, people have always gotten their social security checks. They’ve gotten them during wartime, during recessions, during a pandemic. No matter what, they got them. But now for the first time ever, that might change. It’d be a calamity for millions of families.”

What is the humanitarian toll of Sudan’s civil war? The consequences for Sudan’s 51 million people have been devastating. Tens of thousands are reportedly dead. Hundreds of thousands face famine. Almost 13 million people have been displaced, 4 million of whom went to neighbouring countries. Almost half the population – 24.6 million people – do not have enough food.

Continue reading...

“Russia Is Not Strong”! Chinese POWs Captured By Ukraine Warn Others Not To Believe Russian ‘Promises’ – EurAsian Times

Posted on by
  1. “Russia Is Not Strong”! Chinese POWs Captured By Ukraine Warn Others Not To Believe Russian ‘Promises’  EurAsian Times
  2. Ukraine parades Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia. What message was it was trying to send?  CNN
  3. China is sending soldiers to Ukraine to prepare for a Taiwan invasion  The Hill
  4. BREAKING: China provides Russia with weapons, Zelensky says.  The Kyiv Independent
  5. Zelensky claims 155 Chinese fighting for Russia in Ukraine  BBC
Posted in Uncategorized

Seth Rogen attack on Trump edited out of science awards show coverage

Posted on by

Presenting an award at the Breakthrough prize ceremony, the actor and writer allegedly accused the president of destroying American science

A pointed criticism of President Trump’s policies on science by Seth Rogen was edited out of the filmed coverage of an annual science awards show, it has emerged.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, which was one of the sponsors of the event, Rogen was one of the presenters at this month’s Breakthrough prize ceremony, a high profile and lavishly funded awards programme recognising “outstanding scientific achievements” co-founded by, among others, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and which describes itself as “the Oscars of science”.

Continue reading...

UK government report calls for taskforce to save England’s historic trees

Posted on by

Exclusive: Ancient oaks ‘as precious as stately homes’ could receive stronger legal safeguards under new proposals

Ancient and culturally important trees in England could be given legal protections under plans set out in a UK government-commissioned report.

Sentencing guidelines would be changed so those who destroy important trees would face tougher criminal penalties. Additionally, a database of such trees would be drawn up and they could be given automatic protections, with the current system of tree preservation orders strengthened to accommodate this.

In 2020, the 300-year-old Hunningham Oak near Leamington was felled to make way for infrastructure projects.

In 2021, the Happy Man tree in Hackney, which the previous year had won the Woodland Trust’s tree of the year contest, was felled to make way for housing development.

In 2022, a 600-year-old oak was felled in Bretton, Peterborough, which reportedly caused structural damage to nearby property.

In 2023, 16 ancient lime trees on The Walks in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, were felled to make way for a dual carriageway.

Continue reading...

Rare letter offers glimpse into Bram Stoker’s early thoughts on Dracula

Posted on by

‘Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless’, author playfully wrote in note weeks after horror novel published in 1897

He had just unleashed one of the most famed gothic horror books on the world, a blood-curdling classic that chilled readers and has inspired countless authors, film-makers and video game developers ever since.

But a rare note that Bram Stoker wrote only weeks after Dracula was published in 1897 gives a glimpse into the playful fun he must have had with the novel.

Continue reading...

Israel will keep Gaza buffer zone, minister says, as ceasefire efforts stall – Reuters

Posted on by
  1. Israel will keep Gaza buffer zone, minister says, as ceasefire efforts stall  Reuters
  2. LIVE: Israel killed 25 in Gaza today, says troops to ‘remain’ indefinitely  Al Jazeera
  3. Israeli defense minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely  AP News
  4. Israel Threatens Further Escalation in Gaza War  The New York Times
  5. Israel Has Taken Over About a Third of the Gaza Strip  WSJ
Posted in Uncategorized

Gender critical campaigners win at UK supreme court over definition of woman

Posted on by

Judges rule that Equality Act definition excludes transgender women holding gender recognition certificates

Gender critical rights campaigners have won their supreme court challenge over the definition of a woman.

Five judges from the UK supreme court ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 did not include transgender women who hold gender recognition certificates (GRCs).

Continue reading...

UK Supreme Court rules that equalities law defines a woman as someone born biologically female – AP News

Posted on by
  1. UK Supreme Court rules that equalities law defines a woman as someone born biologically female  AP News
  2. UK Supreme Court says legal definition of ‘woman’ excludes trans women, in landmark ruling  CNN
  3. The courts have spelled out what our politicians are too scared to say: trans women aren’t women  The Telegraph
  4. Gender critical campaigners win at UK supreme court over definition of woman  The Guardian
  5. UK Supreme Court Says Trans Women Are Not Legally Women Under Equality Act  The New York Times
Posted in Uncategorized

The great Mississippi tops list of most endangered rivers amid fears over Trump rollbacks

Posted on by

Cuts to disaster agency and deregulation of fossil fuels, plus rise of water-guzzling datacentres, highlighted in new report

The Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal climate disaster agency – and the full-throttle deregulation of fossil fuels and water-guzzling datacentres – could prove catastrophic for America’s endangered rivers, threatening the food, water and livelihoods of millions of people, according to a new report.

American Rivers’ annual most-endangered rivers list lays bare a myriad of human-made threats including floods, drought and other extreme weather events driven by the climate crisis, as well as industrial pollution and poor river management – all of which Trump’s regulatory rollbacks will almost inevitably make worse.

Continue reading...

Slovakia’s Fico to attend Moscow’s WWII parade despite EU warnings – Euronews.com

Posted on by
  1. Slovakia's Fico to attend Moscow's WWII parade despite EU warnings  Euronews.com
  2. Slovak Premier Slams EU’s Kallas for Call to Cancel Moscow Trip  Bloomberg.com
  3. European Commission responds to Slovak PM's claim over 9 May parade in Moscow  Українська правда
  4. Slovak PM to attend Moscow parade despite EU warning  TVP World
  5. EU’s Kallas urges leaders to boycott Moscow’s May 9 celebrations, show support for Ukraine  The Kyiv Independent
Posted in Uncategorized

Elon Musk’s Starlink and the racially charged row over operating in South Africa – BBC

Posted on by
  1. Elon Musk's Starlink and the racially charged row over operating in South Africa  BBC
  2. 'Cutting corners' and 'auditioning' to be minister - Malatsi and Diko's latest spat  News24
  3. Starlink Makes Headway In South Africa  Broadcast Media Africa
  4. Minister Malatsi’s bid to get Starlink deal into orbit is weighed down by opposition gravity  Daily Maverick
  5. South African lawmaker accused of pushing legal changes to benefit Elon Musk’s Starlink  Times of India
Posted in Uncategorized