00x Final Filter
Germany’s Merz congratulates Romanian election winner Nicușor Dan – MSN
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25 05 07 Brief
TOP FOCUS
INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICT GOES FROM HOT TO WHITE HOT AFTER MISSILE STRIKE – India launched a missile strike into rival nation Pakistan, killing 31 people and injuring 57 others, Pakistan claims. The conflict is over the contested region of Kashmir that both countries claim as being rightfully theirs. Pakistan has called the attacks an “act of war” and has instructed its military to prepare to act in kind. Both nations have nuclear weapons, so the stakes for this potential conflict are near-catastrophic. Read the full blurb report
FEATURES
AFTER “FAR RIGHT” WIN SUPPRESSED BY EU, ROMANIA DELIVERS AN EVEN BIGGER “FAR RIGHT” VICTORY – The current flag bearer of the de facto “Romania First” party, George Simeon, has finished first in the first round of Romania’s Presidential elections. He won the first round with 41% of the vote to second place Nicusor Dan. He finished with 21% of the total vote. Simeon appears set to win by an even bigger margin of victory than his party leader predecessor, Calin Georgescu, did in December of 2024. That election was cancelled by the EU, and Georgescu banned from running for public office. Read the full blurb report
MERZ FINALLY PREVAILS IN SECOND GERMAN PARLIAMENT VOTE – After having failed an historic first vote to officially win Germany’s Chancellorship, Conservative leader Friedrich Merz finally secured the majority vote needed in the second round of voting.
In the first round of voting, Merz’ coalition of 328 failed to deliver the necessary 316 majority vote needed. He received only 310 votes. The historic first vote failure is seen as a sign that Merz will be beginning his chancellorship with a shaky coalition. Read the full blurb report
HEADLINES
HOUTHIS CRY NO MAS TO U.S., BUT NOT TO ISRAEL – It appears the Houthis are done with Trump, or so they think. They’re hoping for a ceasefire that allows them to continue to fight Israel, even if it means no longer attacking ships going through the Red Sea.
Channel News Asia Source Link
Excerpt:
A ceasefire deal between Yemen’s Houthis and the United Staes does not include sparing Israel, the group said on Wednesday (May 7), suggesting its shipping attacks that have disrupted global trade and challenged world powers will not come to a complete halt.
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the US would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking US ships…
CHINA, U.S., HEADED TO TRADE TALKS IN THE ALPS – Switzerland will be the home of high-level trade talks between the U.S. and China. These talks will most likely be the opening salvos in a series of talks that will eventually end with a trade deal of substance, or so it is “hoped.”
Channel News Asia Source Link
Excerpt:
Senior US and Chinese officials will travel to Switzerland later this week to kickstart stalled trade talks following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff rollout, according to statements from both countries.
The talks mark the first official public engagement between the world’s two largest economies to resolve a trade war escalated by Trump shortly after his return to office in January.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer will attend the talks in Europe for the United States, their offices said.
UKRAINE CEASEFIRE GETS MORE DISTANT AS VANCE DOUBTS RUSSIA’S SINCERITY – VP JD Vance is asserting Russia is demanding too much ahead of any potential long-lasting ceasefire deal.
Politico Source Link
Excerpt:
Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that Russia is “asking for too much” to end its war with Ukraine, underscoring new frustrations in the Trump White House over its efforts to court Moscow on peace talks…
MALI JUNTA MAKES IT OFFICIAL, DEMOCRACY IS DEAD – Until further notice, in the interest of public order, all political activity will cease, for the good of the whole, the Mali Junta declares.
Vanguard News Source Link
Excerpt:
Mali’s junta on Wednesday suspended political parties’ activities “until further notice for reasons of public order”, as the opposition protests against the military government’s ramped-up crackdown on dissent.
WIRES
JUDICIAL WATCH SAYS IRS UNFAIRLY TARGETS J6 PROTESTERS, FILES LAWSUIT TO GET THE RECORDS
Judicial Watch sues IRS for records on possible targeting of J6 protesters – justthenews.com
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Excerpt:
Judicial Watch said Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the IRS over possible targeting of Jan. 6th protesters.
The watchdog group group filed the Freedom of Information Act suit on April 25 to obtain records regarding potentially improper targeting of Jan. 6th Capitol rioters, their supporters, and related nonprofits…
RUSSIA JOINS WITH TALIBAN TO FIGHT “COMMON ENEMY,” THE ISLAMIC STATE
Russia says it will help Taliban fight Islamic State in Afghanistan – Reuters
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Excerpt:
Russia will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan fight against the Afghan branch of Islamic State, Moscow’s special representative for the country was quoted as saying on Friday…
TRUMP SUFFERS ANOTHER COURT LOSS, THIS TIME PREVENTING HIM FROM REVOKING LEGAL STATUS OF “PAROLEES”
US appeals court blocks Trump’s attempt to revoke legal status of parolees living in US – Jurist.org
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Excerpt:
The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to revoke the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans living in the US. The ruling follows a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of individual beneficiaries, sponsors of humanitarian parole processes, and affected parolees…
MOSCOW AIRPORTS FACE UKRAINE DRONE ASSAULT AS PUTIN PREPARES FOR RED SQUARE PARADE
Ukrainian drones keep targeting Moscow as foreign leaders arrive for Red Square parade – The Washington Post
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Excerpt:
Attacks by Ukrainian long-range drones caused flight disruption at Moscow’s main airports for a third straight day on Wednesday as Russia prepared to receive the Chinese president and other foreign leaders for the annual Victory Day military parade in Red Square…
PA VOTER BILLS LOOK TO PRESERVE MASS MAILER ELECTIONS, DISENFRANCHISING KEYSTONE VOTERS
Voter ID and vote-by-mail reform bills move to Pa. House – Pennsylvania Capital-Star
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Excerpt:
Pennsylvania lawmakers will consider a package of election reforms including a voter ID requirement and changes to the commonwealth’s vote-by-mail law after a House committee passed the long-debated measures…
New York State Senate committee approves anti-trans sports bill – Gay City News
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Excerpt:
The New York State Senate’s Education Committee approved an anti-trans sports bill on May 6 that would stop the state education commissioner from implementing trans-inclusive sports policies, drawing immediate criticism from LGBTQ advocates…
DEMS LOOK FOR HAIL MARY BILL TO PROTECT DE FACTO FEDERAL FUNDING OF PARTY FROM BEING AXED FURTHER
House Democrats are launching a longshot procedural move to prevent safety net cuts– www.politico.com
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Excerpt:
House Democratic leaders said Tuesday they would launch a longshot effort to force a vote on a bill preventing cuts to key federal safety-net programs…
TRUMP PREPARES UN FOR U.S. ECONOMIC WITHDRAWAL
Trump puts the U.N. on notice: Don’t expect the gravy train to keep rolling – Washington Times
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Excerpt:
The United Nations is not exactly known for its thrifty ways. Despite facing periodic pressure to reduce its budget, the world body spends trillions of dollars annually, and much of that funding comes from the United States. Thanks to President Trump, that’s about to change…
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Excerpt:
WASHINGTON: The US trade deficit widened to a record high in March as businesses boosted imports of goods ahead of tariffs, which dragged gross domestic product into negative terrain in the first quarter for the first time in three years.
The trade gap jumped 14 per cent to a record US$140.5 billion from a revised US$123.2 billion in February, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said on Tuesday (May 6).
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade deficit rising to US$137.0 billion from the previously reported US$122.7 billion in February.
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, including raising duties on Chinese imports to a staggering 145 per cent, fueled a rush by businesses to bring in merchandise to avoid higher costs.
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Excerpt:
A right-wing Israeli minister says victory for Israel won’t come until Gaza is “entirely destroyed” and Palestinians are forced out into other countries.
Israeli Finance Minister Bazalel Smotrich made the statement during a Tuesday appearance at a conference on Jewish settlements in the West Bank. While Smotrich is a senior Israeli official, his statement does not represent the official policy of the Israeli government.
“Within a year we will be able to declare victory in Gaza,” he told attendees. “Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to… the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries,” Smotrich said, according to the Agence France-Presse.
“Israel does not intend to withdraw from territories the IDF captures, not even as part of a deal to release hostages,” he added.
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Excerpt:
Forgive them, for they know not what they do.
This admonition came to my mind this week as I was reminded of the devastation caused by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s decision to pull the plug on a decades-old program funding pregnancy care centers in the Keystone State.
Shapiro canceled the contract of Real Alternatives, an award-winning organization which admirably served pregnant women and their children throughout the Commonwealth.
For one pregnancy center that I am aware of, that meant a loss of $100,000.
Can you imagine how many women can be served with that amount of money? It is a significant loss, not only of treasure, but of service to the community.