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Jul 23, 2026
'Pathetic' Trump blasted for just 'staring off into the abyss' at dignified transfer
A Democratic lawmaker and veteran called out President Donald Trump on Thursday, dubbing him and his team "an absolute clown car" as Americans' frustration over the Iran war mounts.Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) told MeidasTouch that as the Middle East conflict grows, it appears increasingly clear that Trump and his administration do not have a strategy for the war — and it's costing more lives as a result. House lawmakers on Thursday voted to pass a war powers resolution, rebuking Trump's war. Ryan described his annoyance over the conflict, arguing that lawmakers do not want to send the "next generation" to another military conflict in the region. He also described his anger over Trump's behavior at Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday during the dignified transfer of four fallen military service members who died in recent days following strikes. "You see there's a photo with every leader with their head down, bowed, and he’s just staring off into the abyss. It’s just pathetic," Ryan said."What do you expect from a five-time draft dodger who has no clue what this is? The American people see this," he added."This is a guy that has never served a single day in uniform but is willing to send other people’s kids to fight in his wars while his own sons are profiting off all these defense companies’ stocks that they own," Ryan said. "It’s absolutely disgusting. It's absolutely un-American and every Republican needs to vote yes on this war powers resolution or else their name is on this. I think increasingly, the blood of our fallen is certainly on Hegseth's hands and Trump's hands, and every Republican who continues this war and doesn't stop it today — they're accountable for that."Ryan: You see there’s a photo with everyone’s heads bowed, and he’s just staring off into the abyss. It’s just pathetic. What do you expect from a five-time draft dodger? This is a guy who has never served a single day in uniform and is willing to send other people’s kids to… pic.twitter.com/9EFdFb35Ik— Acyn (@Acyn) July 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
Republican senator scrambling to defend Trump makes startling admission: 'I feel the pain'
A Republican senator admitted that Americans were feeling "pain" from President Donald Trump's decision to launch a war against Iran.Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) appeared Thursday on Fox News, where he told anchor Sandra Smith that fuel costs would go back down once hostilities cooled after the unraveling of the memorandum of understanding signed last month."It's important, I don't discount it," the Indiana Republican said. "I hear from Hoosiers that talk about high gas prices, and we want gas prices to come down, and the good news, as you saw when the president signed the short-term [memorandum of understanding] with the Iranians, you saw gas prices immediately go down; now they are creeping back up."The 14-point framework agreed to by the Trump administration mandated a permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and 60 days to negotiate a nuclear agreement, but the terms of that memorandum are effectively dead with the resumption of military strikes."We know that as soon as we strike a deal and end Iran's ability to have a nuclear weapon and we can finish the war," Banks said, "we know gas prices will immediately go down to where they need to be, lower than we've ever seen before because of President Trump's energy policies.""This is temporary," he added. "I feel the pain. I hear this from Hoosiers as well. Gas prices will go down as soon as Iran does the right thing and ends their nuclear program."
Jul 23, 2026
Media silence as Kushner's $2B tie to Saudis slips under cover of Trump deal: analyst
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt should be fielding questions about Jared Kushner's $2 billion tie to Saudi Arabia, a media expert fumed Thursday. Judd Legum, founder of the Substack Popular.info, took to social media to share his disgust after Leavitt was grilled about President Donald Trump's controversial nuclear deal at a White House press conference.His frustration appeared in the form of a list of news outlets that covered the US-Saudi nuclear deal without mentioning that Jared Kushner, Trump’s senior White House aide, is getting paid by the Saudi government."Legum's list included The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, The Guardian, Semafor, The Washington Post, Fox News, The New York Post, BBC, Newsweek, and MS NOW.Kushner launched his private equity firm Affinity Partners shortly after leaving the White House in 2021 after Trump's first administration, reports show.The Florida-based company received a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, multiple reports show. The deal drew scrutiny from ethics watchdogs given Kushner's role shaping U.S.-Saudi relations, including his involvement in defending MBS after the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.On his Substack, Legum dubbed the coverage, "A media blackout for Kushner’s corruption."
Jul 23, 2026
'Demented old man at the helm': Trump skewered for Truth Social diplomacy 'failure'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday that President Donald Trump has used Truth Social to announce changes to the Saudi nuclear deal, sparking backlash online.Leavitt told reporters during a White House press conference that Trump had made the public comments despite the fact that he had not consulted them this time."As you know, the president just put this statement out a few hours ago," Leavitt said. "I don't believe he's had a call with MBS in the hours since. However, this is something that he has raised in previous conversations and has also said many times in the past."Social media users responded to the change.Journalist Aaron Rupar shared a clip from the press conference and noted the significant shift. "Leavitt confirms that Trump is unilaterally changing the terms of the Saudi nuclear deal via Truth Social posts without even contacting any Saudi officials," Rupar wrote on X.Others were quick to point out the president's move."This is why Trump is a failure on the world stage," Vince Wilson, a YouTube creator and liberal political commentator, wrote on X. "It’s all theatrics."U.S. politics and culture historian Joanne Freeman suggested Trump's post represented a repeating pattern."He will never stick with any deal," Freeman wrote. "He will never accept that he has lost…anything. He sees nothing but himself. Pretty clear by this point."Oeishik a political commentator, with more than 11,000 followers, openly mocked Trump's tactic."That's one way to do diplomacy, I guess. In this upside-down world," Oeishik wrote.Denison Barb, a progressive commentator with more than 19,000 followers, responded on X, When you have a demented old man at the helm no one knows what's going on."Leavitt confirms that Trump is unilaterally changing the terms of the Saudi nuclear deal via Truth Social posts without even contacting any Saudi officials pic.twitter.com/DjcRBANhvj— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
Two Russian men jailed in Angola for terrorism and spying
The men were convicted over alleged plan to stage coup and organise deadly demonstrations over fuel prices last yearTwo Russian men have been found guilty by an Angolan court of terrorism and spying after being accused of planning a coup and helping to organise deadly demonstrations in the southern African country last year.Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin were sentenced to eight and 11 years in jail respectively. They had denied the charges, claiming they were in Angola for cultural and business activities. Continue reading...
Jul 23, 2026
MoD cancels army training in Kenya over powers to prosecute British soldiers
September exercise called off after Kenya raises concerns over funding and jurisdiction for criminal offencesThe British army has been forced to cancel training for its troops in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a bilateral defence agreement.While the UK government wanted to renew the existing agreement, Kenyan lawmakers had sought changes to give local authorities greater powers to hold British soldiers accountable for any offences committed in the country. Continue reading...
Jul 22, 2026
Fury over Trump's questionable remark during Georgia rally: 'Is he trolling?'
Reactions were mounting on Wednesday after President Donald Trump made a questionable remark about slain military service members — in front of one of the Gold Star families.Trump was speaking at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, when he spoke about the men and women killed in the Iran war. He had just arrived at the event after attending a dignified transfer of the four service members who died in recent days at Dover Air Force Base, where he said he invited the family of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, to join him on Air Force One to fly back to Georgia and attend the event with him. Feehan was one of the three service members who died after an Iran missile attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17."When I go to Dover I read charts on all of the young people, and some are unbelievable," Trump said. "Some, they've got a couple of little bad things put in. This is a son who is like a flawless, perfect person. His sheet read so beautifully."Critics on social media responded to the comments."Is he trolling dead American soldiers?" Journalist and conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild wrote on X."He's talking about the transfer of remains of US soldiers killed in his illegal war," the Bluesky political account newmexicanextexan wrote." Trump's chart reads: Draft Dodger," attorney and writer David Lurie wrote on Bluesky."Imagine being the parent of one of these dead soldiers," political commentator account The Volatile Mermaid wrote on Bluesky.Is he trolling dead American soldiers? https://t.co/5fenf1mUf1— Mike (not a) Rothschild (@rothschildmd) July 22, 2026
Jul 22, 2026
CNN anchor torches Republican in fiery clash over Trump's broken war vow: 'Be clear'
A Republican lawmaker and CNN anchor got in a heated back-and-forth over President Donald Trump's promises and the Iran war during a live segment on Wednesday.CNN anchor Brianna Keilar pressed Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) to respond to Trump's previous comments and promises not to enter any new wars amid growing unpopularity among Americans over the administration's military operation in the Middle East. She also asked if he thinks Trump, who he had nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, still deserves it."Absolutely. He negotiated a deal between Pakistan and Iraq, two nuclear nations," Carter said."He said, 'We'll never have wars.' How has he not broken that promise?" Keilar asked, sharing multiple times Trump had made the vow not to start wars before he was elected.Carter tried to defend Trump's military actions when Keilar interjected."I think we should be clear, congressman, this particular engagement is one that started in late February and is now in five months," she said."This war with Iran has been going on for 47 years. He's trying to end it," Carter said.Keilar pushed back. "This is not a war he inherited," she said.
Jul 22, 2026
British woman jailed in Hong Kong for blackmail after accusing banker of rape
Isabel Rose, 26, sentenced to six years for blackmail and perverting course of public justice over her allegations against British manA British woman who reported being raped to police in Hong Kong has been sentenced to six years in prison for blackmail and perverting the course of public justice.Isabel Rose, 26, from south-east London, travelled to Hong Kong in early 2024 to visit a British banker she had met while travelling in south-east Asia. Continue reading...
Jul 22, 2026
Australia to warn China it won’t be bullied by ‘provocative‘ actions as it builds military and nuclear arsenal
Foreign minister Penny Wong will deliver speech criticising China’s recent launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missileGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPenny Wong will warn China that Australia and other neighbouring nations will not be bullied by its “provocative” actions, after its involvement in another “destabilising and dangerous” incident this week.The foreign affairs minister – who will deliver the address on Thursday in the Philippines, where the 59th Asean foreign minister’s meeting is being held – will also caution world leaders against placing a toll on the strait of Hormuz after both Iran and the US threatened to do amid the protracted conflict. Continue reading...
Jul 22, 2026
Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea faces jail over ant dessert
Prosecutors seek a one-year sentence and heavy fine after chef garnished dish with insects not approved for consumptionProsecutors in South Korea have asked a court to sentence the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant to one year in prison for serving a dessert topped with ants, an insect not approved for consumption under local food safety law.The request, made on Monday, also sought a 20m won (£10,108) fine for the company that runs the restaurant, Yonhap news agency reported. Continue reading...
Jul 22, 2026
Japan records its first ‘cruelly hot day’ as cities swelter in 40-degree heat
In April Japan coined new term kokushobi for days above 40C as country advises workers to wear shorts to the office to cope with stifling heatJapan logged its first official kokushobi or “cruelly hot day” on Tuesday since the new term for when temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius was introduced in April. The Japan Meteorological Agency coined the new designation to warn the public of the heat dangers of days that were once freak weather events but have now become more common.The central Japan cities of Gujo and Tajimi in Gifu prefecture, along with Toyota in Aichi prefecture, all hit 40C. Gujo’s 40C and Toyota’s 40.1C were all-time highs recorded at their respective weather stations. Continue reading...
Jul 26, 2026
2 Dead After Russian Missiles Hit Ukraine Overnight
Jul 26, 2026
Cuban President Says US Trying To Seize Island
