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Excerpt from slaynews.com

Illegal aliens are admitting that they are rushing to cross the border into the United States before the critical November presidential election.

Many say they are hoping to take advantage of Democrat President Joe Biden’s open border policies as they fear he will lose re-election.

Illegal border crossers told New York Post reporter Jennie Taer that they fear President Donald Trump will secure the Southern Border if elected in November.

After illegally crossing the Arizona border last week, two migrants from Colombia told Taer that they were concerned about the outcome of the upcoming general election.

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Excerpt from fortune.com

 

President Joe Biden, aiming to highlight his legislative accomplishments this election year, traveled to New Hampshire on Tuesday to discuss how he’s helped military veterans get benefits as a result of burn pit or other toxic exposure during their service.

“We can never fully thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made,” Biden said to the veterans and their families gathered at a YMCA. “In America, we leave no veteran behind. That’s our motto.”

In raw numbers, more than 1 million claims have been granted to veterans since Biden signed the so-called PACT Act into law in August 2022, the administration said Tuesday. That amounts to about 888,000 veterans and survivors in all 50 states who have been able to receive disability benefits under the law.

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Excerpt from www.politico.com

House GOP leaders will begin whipping their Republican members on holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt this week, according to two Republicans familiar with the matter, amid some skepticism they can get the near-unanimity required to pass it on the floor.

With Republicans expecting no help from Democrats, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is expected to begin gauging if they can keep intra-party opposition to near zero, according to the two Republicans, who spoke on condition of anonymity. One of those Republicans said the whip effort could begin as early as Wednesday.

Two contempt resolutions against Garland passed out of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees on a partisan basis last week, leading to a highly contentious hearing in the latter panel last Thursday that involved name-calling and alleged drinking.

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Excerpt from www.thegatewaypundit.com

Joe Biden may be the biggest embarrassment to the executive office in US history.

The installed commander-in-chief traveled to Nashua, New Hampshire on Tuesday to sell his legislative accomplishment this election year.

While discussing the impact of the PACT Act, a law that helps veterans receive benefits for toxic exposure during their service, Biden went on a tangent offering his supporters marital advice.

“And by the way,” Biden said. “I say to every young man thinking of getting married, marry into a family with five or more daughters. I did. My wife’s the oldest of five sisters.”

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Excerpt from www.washingtonpost.com

Nearly 50 House Democrats called on Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. to recuse himself from Jan. 6-related cases Tuesday, questioning whether the jurist could be impartial after an upside-down flag flew at his home in the weeks after the U.S. Capitol attack in 2021.

Rep. Hank Johnson (Ga.), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and 44 other lawmakers signed a letter to Alito noting that the upside-down flag — long used as a sign of distress, especially by the U.S. military — has become a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement that falsely claims the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

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Excerpt from abcnews.go.com

Two Democratic congressional incumbents — U.S. Reps. David Scott and Lucy McBath — defeated primary challengers in metro Atlanta districts that were redrawn by Republicans after redistricting lawsuits.

Parties were also choosing their nominees for other congressional and state legislative seats and local offices including sheriffs, district attorneys and county commissioners.

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Excerpt from www.wgal.com

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Excerpt from www.abc27.com

YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– York City council voted on a “ghost gun” bill at Tuesday’s meeting.

It was unanimous yes vote, meaning the bill passed and it now heads to to the mayor’s desk.

“Ghost guns” are unregistered and untraceable homemade weapons. It can be made with a 3D printer or 80% ghost gun build kits can be purchased online.

If the mayor signs it, the ordinance will go into effect in 20 days later, prohibiting the possession, use, transfer or manufacturing of ghost guns and establishing penalties. Anyone who violates the ordinance could be fined anywhere from $300 to $1,000, plus, costs of prosecution for each offense.

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Excerpt from www.washingtonexaminer.com

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is demanding the judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York to recuse himself from the case over allegations his daughter is using the indictment for financial gain.

In an ethics complaint submitted to the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct on Tuesday, Stefanik is urging Judge Juan Merchan to step down from the case over allegations his daughter is leveraging the trial to make money through her fundraising agency. The complaint comes as other House Republicans have also targeted Merchan over his daughter’s politics, deeming it a conflict of interest.

“Judge Merchan currently presides over the criminal case against President Donald J. Trump brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg,” Stefanik wrote in the complaint. “If convicted, President Trump faces a maximum of 136 years’ imprisonment. Moreover, he is the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for this November’s presidential election. As such, not only are President Trump’s interests at stake, the interests of all Americans are at stake.”

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Excerpt from redstate.com

 

Republican cowards anonymously going after him in the media on the matter need to sit down.

There are plenty of things that warrant criticism levied at Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (e.g. Ukraine aid with no border security).

But his visual display of support at former President Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan isn’t one of those things.

And yet, three feckless GOP lawmakers ran to The Hill over the weekend to chastise him for the show of force. Why? Because they’re concerned the party might have to cede the higher ground on family values.

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Excerpt from www.foxnews.com

The Biden administration is threatening to sue yet another Republican-led state over its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration — after suing two other states over their respective anti-illegal immigration bills.

The Department of Justice has written to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond about HB 4156 — legislation that makes it a state crime to be in the state illegally and gives local law enforcement the ability to arrest illegal immigrants, and require them to leave the state within 72 hours following conviction or release from custody.

The law was signed by Stitt this month and is due to go into force on July 1. It is similar to laws passed and signed into law in Iowa and Texas — and those laws have subsequently both been hit by lawsuits from the DOJ, which argues that it infringes on federal authority over immigration law and enforcement. The Texas law is currently on hold amid the ongoing lawsuit there.

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Excerpt from warroom.org

Former White House economic adviser Peter Navarro, currently serving a four-month sentence for refusing to cooperate with a congressional probe, has made startling predictions about what a second term under Donald Trump would entail. Speaking exclusively to Semafor, Navarro outlined a scenario that includes the removal of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell within the first 100 days of the 2024 Trump administration, alongside plans for mass deportations of illegal aliens and increased tariffs on Chinese goods.

Navarro played a pivotal role in implementing key economic strategies in the first Trump administration, including his work on tariff policies and trade renegotiations.

Navarro, who previously directed Trump’s Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, remains steadfast in his loyalty to President Trump. His insights, shared from his current confinement at a minimum-security facility in Miami, suggest that Trump’s inner circle still values the America First agenda. According to Semafor author Gina Chon, a recent visit to Navarro from Donald Trump Jr., which we covered, indicates a potential future role in another Trump administration.

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Excerpt from www.cbsnews.com

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is fighting for another term as D.A. as her prosecution of former President Donald Trump and others in the Georgia 2020 election interference case remains tied up in a Georgia appellate court.

“I plan to win and win big,” Willis predicted in an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Monday night. “I am at a point where I need Fulton County voters to get out and vote.”

The 52-year-old prosecutor is running for reelection in the Democratic primary Tuesday against attorney and author Christian Wise Smith. He previously challenged Willis in 2020, along with then-incumbent District Attorney Paul Howard.

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Excerpt from justthenews.com

(The Center Square) – The California Senate passed a bill requiring social media age verification that experts warn threatens anonymity and free speech online for all Americans.

SB 976 would ban social media notifications to minors during school hours and between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM without parental consent, require chronological, not algorithmic social media feed presented to minors without parental consent, and only allow these features if a social media company has “reasonably determined” the user is not a minor. The bill empowers the California Attorney General to define what is considered “reasonable” by January 1, 2027, which has many concerned this would mean tying highly private information such as government identification to social media use.

“The fact is there isn’t a reliable method of verifying age and identity without collecting users’ personal information such as government IDs, birthdates, and other information,” warned a coalition of business organizations and technology companies, including the California Chamber of Commerce and Technet, in opposition. “This is even more difficult when trying to verify minors, who often don’t have identification.”

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Excerpt from www.pressdemocrat.com

NEW YORK — Martin Gruenberg, the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, will step down from his post once a successor is appointed, the White House said Monday.

Gruenberg’s announced departure comes after damning report about the agency’s toxic workplace culture was released earlier this month and political pressure from the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, who called for his resignation earlier in the day.

In a statement, the White House said that President Joe Biden will name a replacement for Gruenberg “soon” and called for the Senate to quickly confirm the person’s nomination.

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Excerpt from www.thecollegefix.com

There will be no charges for the Idaho teenager who shouted a racial slur and then a vulgar comment toward the University of Utah women’s basketball team.

Furthermore, the city report on the incident undermines at least some of the claims of racial slurs.

Even though there is no indication the teenager or his friends are affiliated with extremist or racist groups, the Associated Press and National Public Radio both found it necessary to imply there was a link.

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Excerpt from www.theguardian.com

In a speech to union workers today in Philadelphia, the vice-president, Kamala Harris, said the use of the term “unified reich” in a video posted by Donald Trump was “appalling”.

“In this moment, extremists are trying to divide our nation, and we see them as they encourage xenophobia and hate,” Harris said.

“This kind of rhetoric is unsurprising coming from the former president and it is appalling. And we’ve got to tell him who we are. And once again it shows that our freedom and our very democracy are at stake.”

Joe Biden was also asked about the remark as he campaigned in New Hampshire.

“It would take too long,” he quipped as he exited a Veterans of Foreign Wars post to shouts of “criminal” and “traitor” from Trump supporters stationed outside.

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Excerpt from insidethemagic.net

…. Disneyland’s character performers were so disappointed in Disney’s treatment of them that they recently decided to hold a vote to unionize. Many of Disneyland’s cast members are already part of a union, so this is not so unusual. Disneyland’s character performers simply wanted to have the support of a union so they could voice their concerns and air their grievances without fear of retribution.

On Saturday, May 18, a union vote was held, and the performers overwhelmingly voted YES. Disneyland’s character performers will now be a part of the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents many performers who work on Broadway.

Per The Hollywood Reporter:

“They say that Disneyland is ‘the place where dreams come true,’ and for the Disney cast members who have worked to organize a union, their dream came true today,” Actors’ Equity Association president Kate Shindle said in a statement on Saturday. “The next step will be to collaborate with them about improving health & safety, wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. After that we will meet with representatives of the Walt Disney Company to negotiate those priorities into a first contract.”

 

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The American Seaford restaurant icon, Red Lobster, has announced plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to overcome over $1 billion in debt. It is expected that the majority of restaurants will close over the coming weeks, but no clear closure plan has been yet released.

Red Lobster CEO Jonathan Tibus said of the decision, “This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth. The support we’ve received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests.”

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Excerpt from thepostmillennial.com

On Sunday, Red Lobster announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and secured $100 million in debtor-in-possession financing commitments from existing lenders. The company was over $1 billion in debt.

The seafood chain noted that while remaining restaurants will continue operating during the proceedings, the number of locations is set to be drastically reduced in the coming weeks.

In a press release, Red Lobster explained that it had entered into a “stalking horse purchase agreement,” meaning the company “will sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing term lenders.”

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Excerpt from www.express.co.uk

… Dr Hamidreza Azizi assessed the impact of Raisi’s death on the running of Iran, noting his first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would take over until elections can be held over the summer.

And he warned his connections with top members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will likely result in an intensification of their involvement in the government – leading to a “struggle” with administrative staff.

Writing on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Dr Azizi said: “Under Article 131 of #Iran’s Constitution, First VP Mohammad Mokhber will temporarily assume Raisi’s duties with the Supreme Leader’s approval. A council must organize a new presidential election within 50 days.

“Mokhber’s ties to the IRGC’s core leadership will guarantee that the IRGC’s role in #Iran’s administration will remain intact and even intensify. His interim presidency may pave the way for even more overt IRGC control over administrative policies.

“Raisi’s death intensifies internal power struggles. Already, factions within the hardline camp were competing for the Speaker of Parliament role. Now, this rivalry will extend to the presidency, with different factions vying for dominance.”

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Kansas City Chiefs’ Kicker Harrison Butker went viral after delivering a graduation speech to a private Catholic University that calls out anti-family, anti-heteronormative woke culture and calls on women to choose Motherhood over a corporate career. While the NFL condemned the speech, others have rallied in support of the kicker, including making his jersey the number one selling jersey in the NFL.

The MSM has been busy mischaracterizing his speech and pretending that it is the social norm to be outraged that some believe a woman’s best future might be, on average, being a Mom, not a CEO. One response from a tone-deaf anti-Americanist leftist, Gayle King, was to insist a man should lose his millionaire job for daring to say women should be mothers. She screeched, “I think everybody has the right to be wrong or hold opinions that others feel are wrong, but he has a right to say what he believes. But it is — it is — was very antiquated thinking, I think, in 2024. But a lot of people — a lot of people feel the way he does. The fact that he got a standing ovation, I think, says a lot.”

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Excerpt from www.sportskeeda.com

Why is Harrison Butker getting ‘canceled’? Exploring reasons for backlash on Chiefs kicker after viral commencement …  Sportskeeda

 

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Excerpt from www.newsbusters.org

On Friday, CBS finally joined the virulently anti-family liberal media’s rhetorical lynch mob fighting to convict Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in the court of public opinion with a discussion during CBS Mornings and, while ABC moved on, NBC’s Today upped the intensity of its disgusting and hypocritical venom toward a speech about the importance of the family.

In other words, Butker stood up for something the three co-hosts on Today have personally and repeatedly discussed is paramount to their lives. Instead of scorning him, they could have mentioned the numerous charities Butker has supported, include Foster’s Outriders charity (which our Craig Bannister explained here).

CBS roped Butker into their “Talk of the Table” segment with fill-in featured co-host Nancy Chen claiming Butker “seemed to dismiss women with career goals.”

Oof. We’re already off to a bad start. Butker said, in fact, nothing of the sort of instead argued many of the female graduates would come to see motherhood and marriage as their greatest accomplishment.

Co-host and Democratic donor Gayle King and co-host Nate Burleson went first, opining Butker shouldn’t lose his job.

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Excerpt from amgreatness.com

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph has issued a statement voicing support for Kansas City Chief’s kicker Harrison Butker and his “right to share his faith and express his opinions.”

Since his commencement speech, Butker has seen his words get distorted in the media and has faced enraged calls for his dismissal from the team.  The NFL put out a statement distancing itself from player, and espousing a “commitment to inclusion.”

The official X account of the city of Kansas City even went so far as to partially doxx Butker, prompting Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to launch an investigation into the Mayor’s office.

In a statement to the Catholic News Agency (CNA) Thursday, Bishop James V. Johnston defended the devout KC kicker.

“Harrison Butker’s passion for his Catholic faith and his family are beautiful and well known,” Johnston said.  “And like most people, he also has strong opinions on where we are as a Church and as a nation.”

Johnston continued:  “The Catholic Church believes that God calls everyone to pursue holiness no matter what path they take. As St. Paul notes, that diversity of callings and vocations is essential to the life and mission of the Church.”

Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, was killed Sunday, May 19 when his helicopter crashed in foggy weather. The Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, was also onboard and was also killed. From within Iran there are mixed reports suggesting some elements are seeking to use the President’ death to push to overthrow the government while crackdowns are also taking place to avoid such outcomes. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attempted to assure the nation everything was fine.

What comes next is a power struggle within as factions vie to fill the power vacuum. It could very well end up that Khamenei comes out on top, now free to execute some of his more draconian plans he’s been held in check by the now deceased President.

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Excerpt from www.thesun.co.uk

Iran ‘to rush for NUKES and purge dissenters in chaotic aftermath of chopper crash’ as pro-Putin tyrant poised for power

THE SUDDEN death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi will “absolutely” lead to an increase in executions of dissenters, experts have warned.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is also feared to be ramping up efforts to get his hands on a nuclear bomb.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been confirmed interim head of the country’s executive branch following Raisi’s sudden deathCredit: AP

Kremlin propagandists have rushed to blame the West for Sunday’s helicopter crash which killed President Raisi, 63, and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, 60.

Their bodies and that of several other officials were discovered today among the wreckage of a US-made Bell 212 helicopter, following a gruelling overnight search in blizzard conditions.

Supreme Leader Khamenei has scrambled to assure Iran will carry on as normal and confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim head of the country’s executive branch.

Mokhbar was part of a team of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and more drones to Russia‘s military, sources told Reuters last year.

Khamenei said on Monday: “I announce five days of public mourning and express my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” adding that Mokhbar had up to 50 days to organise a new presidential election.

Hossein Abedini, the deputy representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in the UK, warned Khamenei is likely to go to extreme measures to maintain control of his country – as anti-regime Iranians launch fireworks and dance in celebration of Raisi’s demise.

Mr Abedini told The Sun: “To stay in power, Khamenei will absolutely increase atrocities and execution of its own people to contain the dissent inside the country.

“It will also intensify its terrorist activities in the Middle East through IRGC, Hezbollah and the Houthis.”

He added that Khamenei will adopt a “very aggressive policy” to try and keep his dictatorship in power.

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Excerpt from www.express.co.uk

… Dr Hamidreza Azizi assessed the impact of Raisi’s death on the running of Iran, noting his first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would take over until elections can be held over the summer.

And he warned his connections with top members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will likely result in an intensification of their involvement in the government – leading to a “struggle” with administrative staff.

Writing on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Dr Azizi said: “Under Article 131 of #Iran’s Constitution, First VP Mohammad Mokhber will temporarily assume Raisi’s duties with the Supreme Leader’s approval. A council must organize a new presidential election within 50 days.

“Mokhber’s ties to the IRGC’s core leadership will guarantee that the IRGC’s role in #Iran’s administration will remain intact and even intensify. His interim presidency may pave the way for even more overt IRGC control over administrative policies.

“Raisi’s death intensifies internal power struggles. Already, factions within the hardline camp were competing for the Speaker of Parliament role. Now, this rivalry will extend to the presidency, with different factions vying for dominance.”

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Excerpt from www.nbcnews.com

Reactions are starting to trickle in as world leaders learn of Raisi’s death…

Nine people were on board the helicopter that crashed, leaving no survivors, Tasnim News Agency, a government-affiliated outlet, reported.

It listed the decedents on board with Raisi. They included Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian; Ayatollah Al Hashem, representative of the supreme leader for parts of Azerbaijan; Eastern Azerbaijan Gov. Malek Rahmati; Cmdr. Seyed Mahdi Mousavi, the head of the president’s security unit; and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member Ansarol Mahdi.

The helicopter’s pilot and co-pilot and a technical assistant also on board were not identified.

The aircraft was returning from a trip to the inauguration of an Iranian dam on the border with Azerbaijan.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said fog and bad weather in the area slowed rescuers’ response. The cause of the crash was unclear, but U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said intelligence officials informed him that there is “no evidence of foul play.”

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Excerpt from time.com

Much of the world was caught by surprise when Ebrahim Raisi, the President of Iran and anticipated successor to the country’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a helicopter crash along with the country’s Foreign Minister over the weekend.

Iran’s role on the world stage had become increasingly complex under Raisi’s leadership, as the regime navigated long simmering tensions with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the U.S. along with internal discontent as mass protests erupted against the country’s theocratic regime.

Here’s a look at how leaders from other nations are reacting to the news of Raisi’s mysterious death.

China

China’s leader Xi Jinping expressed “deep condolences” to the Iranian government and people, according to a Chinese government press release. “Raisi’s tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend,” Xi stated.

Read More: The List of Potential Suspects in the Mysterious Death of Iran’s President Raisi

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Raisi “a true friend to Russia” in a statement on the Kremlin’s website and has made a phone call to Mohammad Mokhber, the new acting president of Iran.

“Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was devoted to serving his Motherland. He enjoyed the well-deserved respect of his compatriots and high prestige beyond his country. As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good neighborly relations between our countries and made great efforts to advance them to the level of strategic partnership,” Putin said in the statement.

Read More: Putin’s Enemies Are Struggling to Unite

“I have had the privilege of meeting Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on multiple occasions, and I will always cherish the fond memories of this wonderful man. Please convey my heartfelt condolences and support to the family and friends of the late President, as well as to all those affected by this tragic incident. I extend my wishes for strength to the Iranian people as they navigate through this challenging and irreparable loss,” wrote Putin.

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a statement on X offering condolences to Raisi’s family and the Iranian people. “Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” he wrote.

Read More: Why Some Iranians Refuse to Mourn President Ebrahim Raisi

Pakistan

In response to Raisi’s death, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning. “Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with Brotherly Iran,” Shehbaz posted on X.

Tensions between Iran and Pakistan spiked in January of this year when Pakistan conducted military strikes inside Iranian territory in an attempt to target Balochistan militants. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored within a day.

European Union

The European Union posted an official statement on its website. “The European Union offers its condolences for the death of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian and other Iranian officials involved in the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday,” the statement reads. “The EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected.”

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has had a tense relationship with Iran in recent years, and the two are engaged in multiple proxy conflicts in the region. In 2023, China brokered an agreement with the two countries that led them to restore diplomatic relations for the first time in seven years. Relations between the two powers remain frosty, but Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his condolences in a phone call with Mokhber, according to Saudi media.

“We extend to you and to the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran our deepest sympathy asking Allah almighty to bestow the deceased with his mercy and forgiveness,” Salman reportedly told Iran’s new acting president.

 

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Excerpt from www.independent.co.uk

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has died after his helicopter crashed amid heavy fog in northern Iran.

Rescuers on Monday found the helicopter that was carrying the Iranian president, as well as the country’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other senior officials, after it crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran.

Minutes after the Red Crescent Society announced its team had reached the site of the crash, state TV reported that there were “no signs of life” and an official said the helicopter had been “completely burned”.

The state-run Mehr news agency then announced that the president and foreign minister had been “martyred”.

Earlier officials said the aircraft appeared to have undergone a “rough landing” near Jolfa, the Iranian city on the border of Azerbaijani exclave Nakhchivan, around 600km northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.

Turkish authorities said drone footage showed a fire some 20km south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on the side of a steep mountain.

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Excerpt from www.foxnews.com

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials were confirmed dead on Monday after their helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country’s northwest, Iranian state media reported.

State TV said earlier on Monday that there was “no sign of life” at the crash site of the helicopter that was carrying 63-year-old Raisi, 60-year-old Abdollahian and other officials after it made a “hard landing” on Sunday.

The crash site was across a steep valley, according to state media, which gave no immediate cause for the crash.

As the sun rose on Monday, rescuers saw the helicopter from a distance of roughly 1.25 miles, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pir Hossein Kolivand told state media. The officials had been missing for more than 12 hours when the helicopter was observed.

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A Father-son team from Utah attempted to take power in Congo by staging a coup. However, the coup failed, leaving the father, Christian Malanga, dead. Malanga came to America to live in Utah in 1998. He came as a political refugee.

His son, also an American, Marcel Malanga, was taken captive during the failed coup attempt. Along with the Malangas, there was also a British national and another American citizen aiding in the coup, both of which were also captured during the coup attempt.

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Excerpt from www.boredpanda.com

One American is dead and another was taken into custody after a coup attempt against the autocratic government of President Felix Tshisekedi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The botched uprising, which started early on Sunday (May 19), resulted in the deaths of two police officers and one of the attackers, later identified as Christian Malanga, a Salt Lake City resident who came to the US in 1998 as a political refugee.

The 41-year-old Utah resident was reportedly joined by his son, 21-year-old Marcel Malanga, who remains captive in the central African nation along with some 50 people involved in the incident, as per Reuters.

Gunfire rang out around 4 a.m. in the capital, Kinshasa, a Reuters reporter said. Armed men attacked the presidency in the city center, according to spokesman Sylvain Ekenge.

Another attack took place at the nearby home of Vital Kamerhe, a member of parliament who is tipped to become speaker.

“The Honorable Vital Kamerhe and his family are safe and sound,” declared Kamerhe’s spokesman, Michel Moto, in a message published on his X profile.

Malanga was reportedly “neutralized” during the incident and was later identified as the leader of the attempted coup. 

Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a 36-year-old cannabis “entrepreneur” from Maryland who acted as Malanga’s right-hand man, was also seized by Congolese authorities.

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Excerpt from www.thesun.co.uk

Brit captured and American among six killed in failed COUP in DR Congo after armed militia storms presidential palace

A BRITISH citizen has been captured and an American man killed after an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Six people died after an armed militia force stormed the presidential palace in capital city Kinshasa on Sunday.

At around 4am on Sunday morning, dozens of armed men clad in military gear and brandishing rifles attacked two major government buildings.

President Felix Tshisekedi’s official home and office – the Palais de le Nation – and the home of economy minister Vital Kamerhe.

Four of the attackers and two guards were killed in the shootouts that followed around the homes – spread about 1.2 miles apart.

The attack lasted around three hours before Congolese security forces won out.

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Excerpt from www.wivb.com

Congolese army says it has foiled a coup. Self-exiled opposition leader threatens president

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s army says it has “foiled a coup” early Sunday morning and arrested the perpetrators, including several foreigners, following a shootout between armed men in military uniform and guards of a close ally of Congo’s president that left three people dead in the capital, Kinshasa.

At first, local media identified the armed men as Congolese soldiers but then reported they were linked to self-exiled opposition leader Christian Malanga who later posted a video on Facebook threatening President Felix Tshisekedi.

Tshisekedi was reelected as president in December in a chaotic vote amid calls for a revote from the opposition over what they said was a lack of transparency. The Central African country has witnessed similar trends of disputed elections in the past.

Congolese army spokesperson Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge said on state television Sunday that the attempted coup d’état was “nipped in the bud by Congolese defense and security forces (and) the situation is under control.” He did not give further details.

This also came amid a crisis gripping Tshisekedi’s ruling party over an election for the parliament’s leadership which was supposed to be held Saturday but got postponed.

Clashes were reported Sunday between men in military uniform and guards of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and a candidate for speaker of the National Assembly of Congo, at his residence in Kinshasa, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the presidential palace and where some embassies are also located.

Kamerhe’s guards stopped the armed men, Michel Moto Muhima, the politician’s spokesperson said on the X social media platform, adding that two police officers and one of the attackers were killed in the shootout that started around 4:30 a.m.

Footage, seemingly from the area, showed military trucks and heavily armed men parading deserted streets in the neighborhood as the army said the situation has been brought under control.

Meanwhile, the self-exiled Malanga appeared in the live-streamed video surrounded by several people in military uniform and said: “Felix you’re out, we are coming for you.”

On his website, the opposition leader’s group — the United Congolese Party (UCP) — is described as “a grassroots platform that unifies the Congolese Diaspora around the world opposing the current Congolese dictatorship.”

Tshisekedi hasn’t so far addressed the public about Sunday’s events.

On Friday, he met with parliamentarians and leaders of the Sacred Union of the Nation ruling coalition in an attempt to resolve the crisis seizing his party, which dominates the national assembly. He said he would not “hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections if these bad practices persist.”

The United States Embassy in Congo issued a security alert Sunday, urging caution after “reports of gunfire.”

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Associated Press journalist Ruth Alonga in Goma, Congo and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv contributed.

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Excerpt from www.ctvnews.ca

Congo foiled coup leaves 6 dead

Six people were killed and dozens arrested following attacks on the residence of a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi and the presidential palace, in what the country’s military described as a foiled coup attempt.

In December, Tshisekedi was reelected as president amid calls for a revote from the opposition over what they said was a lack of transparency.

The six who were killed included 3 assailants and their leader, the self-exiled opposition figure Christian Malanga, Congolese army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge told reporters on Sunday night, adding that around 50 perpetrators were arrested.

Armed men in military uniform clashed Sunday with the guards of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator who is close to the Congolese president. Kamerhe’s spokesman posted on social media platform X, saying the guards were able to stop them and confirmed the lawmaker and his family were safe.’

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Researchers at the Delft University of Technology at the Netherlands have developed a new type of drone called a “neuromorphic drone” that is modelled after animal brains in how it processes data. The initial tests reveal these neuromorphic drones process data 64 times faster than drones using conventional GPUs and use three times less energy to do so.

One of the authors of the study, Jesse Hagenaars, said “The calculations performed by spiking neural networks are much simpler than those in standard deep neural network. Whereas digital spiking neurons only need to add integers, standard neurons have to multiply and add floating point numbers. This makes spiking neural networks quicker and more energy efficient. To understand why, think of how humans also find it much easier to calculate 5 + 8 than to calculate 6.25 x 3.45 + 4.05 x 3.45.”

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Excerpt from scitechdaily.com

Researchers at Delft University of Technology have created a drone that can fly autonomously, utilizing neuromorphic image processing and control inspired by the functioning of animal brains. Animal brains process data and consume energy more efficiently than the deep neural networks typically operated on GPUs. Consequently, neuromorphic processors are ideal for small drones, as they eliminate the need for bulky hardware and large batteries.

The results are extraordinary: during flight, the drone’s deep neural network processes data up to 64 times faster and consumes three times less energy than when running on a GPU. Further developments of this technology may enable the leap for drones to become as small, agile, and smart as flying insects or birds. The findings were recently published in Science Robotics.

Under cross examination by Donald Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, the star witness in the Kangaroo Court case against Trump, Michael Cohen, admitted he stole $60K from the Trump organization.

In the cross-examination, he also admitted he would lie under oath to save his own skin, he wants revenge against Trump for disrespecting him, and he has a vested economic interest in seeing Donald Trump get convicted. At one point Blanche plainly asked Cohen, “Would you be willing to lie if it affects you personally?” He answered, “Yes.”

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Excerpt from www.thegatewaypundit.com

President Trump was back in a Manhattan court on Monday in Alvin Bragg’s Soviet-style ‘hush money’ lawfare trial.

The prosecutors once again rolled out their ‘star witness’ Michael Cohen, a convicted perjurer, to take the witness stand.

Cohen shocked the public when he admitted he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump and lied to Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg.

He also said he would lie to the jury if it affected his personal life.

Unbelievable!

Here is the exchange between Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche and Michael Cohen courtesy of TGP contributor Paul Ingrassia who is inside of the NYC courtroom live reporting:

Blanche: Did you mean it when you said revenge is a dish best served cold?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: You were willing to lie under oath if it affects your personal life, correct?

Cohen: I don’t understand your question.

Blanche: You testified under oath months ago that you were willing to lie if it affects your personal life, correct?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: So I’m asking the same question to you now: would you still be willing to lie if it affects your personal life?

Bragg prosecutor: Objection!

Merchan: Objection sustained.

Blanche: Would you be willing to lie if it affects you personally?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Researchers in 3 cities in 3 different countries, China, Netherlands, and the United States, achieved a partial quantum entanglement between 3 quantum computers located in the three separate cities. The success of the experiment shows full quantum entanglement is possible in cost-effective ways, but there’s still a long way to go before quantum computers become an everyday part of our lives.

The studies were conducted by three separate research teams who coordinated their efforts to attempt the quantum entanglement.

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Excerpt from www.scientificamerican.com

Quantum Internet Milestone Takes Entanglement Out of the Lab and into Cities

It’s a “big deal” to demonstrate entangled quantum networks outside a lab

Andrey Suslov/Getty Images

Three separate research groups have demonstrated quantum entanglement — in which two or more objects are linked so that they contain the same information even if they are far apart — over several kilometres of existing optical fibres in real urban areas. The feat is a key step towards a future quantum internet, a network that could allow information to be exchanged while encoded in quantum states.

Together, the experiments are “the most advanced demonstrations so far” of the technology needed for a quantum internet, says physicist Tracy Northup at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. Each of the three research teams — based in the United States, China and the Netherlands — was able to connect parts of a network using photons in the optical-fibre-friendly infrared part of the spectrum, which is a “major milestone”, says fellow Innsbruck physicist Simon Baier.

A quantum internet could enable any two users to establish almost unbreakable cryptographic keys to protect sensitive information. But full use of entanglement could do much more, such as connecting separate quantum computers into one larger, more powerful machine. The technology could also enable certain types of scientific experiment, for example by creating networks of optical telescopes that have the resolution of a single dish hundreds of kilometres wide.