World, US, Culture, Market, and Sci-Tech News Aggregation from MSM and Independent News
Pope Leo has responded to President Trump’s attack on him by saying he has “no intention to debate” Mr. Trump on Iran.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump lashed out at the pontiff on social media, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” he added.
Leo had called Mr. Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable” and encouraged people to contact “political leaders … to ask them, tell them to work for peace.”
Polish PM Tusk congratulated Peter Madyar and discussed his planned Warsaw visit mezha.net
from news.google.com
The AI build-out is powering global goods trade Financial Times
from news.google.com
Just over three months ago, Australia’s world-leading regulations attempting to ban social media use by under-16s came into force. The relevant regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, has released its first compliance report on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. The report makes interesting reading, given the number of countries apparently considering whether to emulate the Australian endeavors.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the eSafety Commissioner finds “progress” to be remarkably modest. Based on a survey of 898 parents and caregivers of children age eight to 15 taken between January 19 and February 2, 2026, the commissioner reports that while just under half reported their children having their own account on at least one of the banned platforms prior to the law coming into force on December 10, 2025, that proportion decreased to only 31.3 percent in the survey period.
Britain will not support Trump blockade of Strait of Hormuz, vows Starmer The National
from news.google.com
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home was allegedly targeted for the second time in two days – and cops have made two arrests.
A Honda car had been near Altman’s $27 million Russian Hill mansion early Sunday morning – before pulling up outside and a shot was fired from the vehicle’s passenger window, the San Francisco Standard reported.
The Supreme Court and Trump’s Regime are Full of Christian Fascists revcom.us
from news.google.com
HONG KONG — China is poised to benefit from the Iran war as global energy disruptions accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels and toward clean technologies and renewable power, industries that China dominates.
Most of the oil and gas from the now mostly shut Strait of Hormuz was Asia-bound. Asian nations are scrambling to conserve energy and bolster dwindling reserves. As a temporary ceasefire teeters, gasoline prices in the U.S. and Europe are spiking.
While most of Asia is hit hard, China will likely benefit from the fossil fuel disruptions despite being the biggest purchaser of Iranian oil. China leads the world in battery, solar and electric vehicle exports, and its industries are forecast to face a rise in demand for renewable products.
Before the start of the Iran war in late February, China’s lead in clean technologies was lengthening. The U.S. under President Donald Trump scaled back on renewable energy and leaned on its vast oil and gas resources, promoting energy exports to achieve what Trump described as “energy dominance.”
Hungarian leader of right-wing party Our Homeland congratulates Meta on opposition win– rmx.news
News Source
EXCERPT:
Hungary will face major blows to its democracy and suffer greatly at the hands of globalists after the victory of the opposition Tisza party in Hungary’s national elections, said the Our Homeland party (Mi Hazánk) leader, László Toroczkai.
“Since we already have experience with a government backed by the same circles — after all, Gordon Bajnai also sat there as an invited guest at the Bilderberg Group’s meetings — we know what to expect. The deterioration of the state of democracy, the establishment of a liberal-globalist dictatorship,” said Toroczkai.
Toroczkai’s party is considered even farther to the right than Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, with his party promoting a stricter immigration line, blaming Orbán for an increase in legal immigration in recent years.
Donald Trump has said he doesn’t care if Iran comes back to negotiations with the US after the weekend talks in Pakistan ended without a deal. “I don’t care if they come back or not,” Trump told reporters in Maryland on Sunday. “If they don’t come back, I’m fine.”
Trump said earlier that the US Navy would start blockading the Hormuz strait and also prohibit every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran. US Central Command said later it would begin a blockade of all Iranian Gulf ports and coastal areas on Monday at 10am ET (5.30pm in Iran and 1400 GMT), effectively seizing control of maritime traffic in the strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that “approaching military vessels to the strait of Hormuz is considered a violation of the ceasefire”.
Oil prices rose in early market trading after Trump’s blockade announcement. The price of US crude oil rose 8% to $104.24 a barrel and Brent crude oil – the international standard – rose 7% to $102.29. Australia’s share market dropped sharply on Monday morning.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf taunted Trump on X, saying in a post: “Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.” Earlier he said Trump’s new threats would have no effect on the Iranian nation: “If you fight, we will fight … We will not bow to any threats.”
Trump and his advisers are looking at resuming limited military strikes in Iran in addition to the US blockade of the Hormuz strait, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials and people familiar with the situation.
What influences how long we live, and how much of that is written in our genes? For many years, scientists believed genetics played only a modest role. Earlier estimates suggested that inherited factors explained about 20 to 25 percent of lifespan differences, and some large studies even placed the number below 10 percent.
A new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science, published in Science, challenges that long-standing view. The researchers report that genetics may account for roughly half of the variation in human lifespan, which is at least double previous estimates. The study was led by Ben Shenhar from the lab of Prof. Uri Alon in Weizmann’s Molecular Cell Biology Department.
UK police arrest over 200 at protest for banned Palestine group 1News
from news.google.com
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted their sweeping control over the Strait of Hormuz, even as it signalled that civilian maritime traffic remains permitted under regulated conditions.In a statement, quoted by AFP, the Guards’ naval command said, “All traffic… is under the full control of the armed forces,” accompanied by footage showing vessels targeted through crosshairs. The warning escalated further with the message, “The enemy will become trapped in a deadly vortex in the Strait if it makes the wrong move.”
Oil prices have rocketed in early market trading after the US announced it would blockade Iranian ports.
The US military has confirmed it will halt all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, with the measure taking effect at 10am ET (2pm GMT) today.
US crude oil prices surged eight per cent to $104.24 a barrel in early trading, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed seven per cent to $102.29.
Decentralized AI models take over healthcare systems Devdiscourse
from news.google.com
The U.S. military said Sunday that it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a total of five people and leaving one survivor, as the Trump administration pursues its campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America while preparing a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
from www.washingtontimes.com
Hungary’s strongman Viktor Orban has lost reelection in stunning fashion, an absolute electoral wipeout that presages what his MAGA allies in the U.S. will be facing this November.
The brand-new opposition Tisza party won around 53% of the vote, to just 37% for Orban’s Fidesz. Tisza is projected to secure around 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament, comfortably above the 133 needed for a supermajority, giving it the power to rewrite Hungary’s constitution and begin dismantling the autocratic system Orban spent 16 years building. Fidesz currently holds 135 seats.
Hungarian voters on Sunday ousted long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, rejecting the authoritarian policies and global far-right movement that he embodied in favour of a pro-European challenger in a bombshell election result with global repercussions.
It was a stunning blow for Orbán – a close ally of both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin – who quickly conceded defeat after what he called a “painful” election result. US Vice President JD Vance had made a visit to Hungary just days earlier, meant to help push Orbán over the finish line.
China’s energy strategy pays off as Mideast war cramps supplies, analysts say The Japan Times
from news.google.com
Iran sees American demands as reaching far beyond what the United States achieved in war. Tehran is gambling that it can withstand further bombardment more than Washington is willing to sustain economic chaos, experts say.
from www.nytimes.com
“If the Taiwan Strait or the surrounding area of Taiwan will be blockaded, it is almost a 100% of the blockade of the regional energy supply,” Sawyer Mars, Taiwan’s deputy interior minister, said in an interview with Bloomberg News earlier this month. “It’s not only Taiwan’s problem, it’s the whole area’s problem.”
from financialpost.com
A TEENAGE girl has been crushed to death by a 1,000kg wooden beam in front of her horrified mum while helping her clean a temple.
The student, 17, was severely wounded following the horror ordeal in Malaysia before later succumbing to her injuries.
John Brennan, who was the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) throughout Barack Obama’s presidency, has joined calls for the removal of US President Donald Trump from office, declaring that the US Constitution’s 25th Amendment was drawn up with Trump specifically in mind.
Apple is finally stepping into the smart glasses space. For this, the company is asking an important question: Would you actually wear these outside? This is the most important thing, because this is where most smart glasses have historically fallen apart. Rather than locking itself into a single, safe design, Apple is reportedly exploring multiple frame styles for its first pair of AI glasses. And not minor tweaks either — we’re talking distinctly different silhouettes.
There’s a bold, chunky rectangular option that leans into classic sunglasses territory. Then a slimmer, more understated rectangular design that feels a bit more executive-core. On the other end, Apple is also experimenting with rounded frames, both oversized and more refined — clearly trying to cover as many style preferences as possible. In short, Apple is designing a small collection, and that’s a smart move. Because what works for one face can look wildly off on another.
SAN DIEGO — While their spring convention was held beneath mostly sunny San Diego skies, delegates and leaders of the California Republican party basked in a different sort of glow over the weekend as the campaign for a leading Democratic candidate for governor imploded because of allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
The party did not endorse a candidate for governor on Sunday because neither of the top Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton — received the support of 60% of delegates. Bianco won 49% while Hilton had 44%; 7% of delegates voted not to endorse in the race.
Myanmar’s new President: Is this shift towards civilian-led democracy or mere hogwash? The Hans India
from news.google.com
A chilling new report is raising fresh alarm over how far elite-backed science may be willing to go, revealing that some researchers are openly discussing the possibility of growing “brainless” human body clones for future use by wealthy individuals who are aging or dying.
The idea sounds like dystopian fiction.
However, according to a new investigation, a billionaire-backed startup has been tied to discussions about creating non-sentient replacement bodies, human clones without functioning brains, that could one day serve as vessels for brain transplants.
Scientists Freeze a Spinning Nanoparticle to Its Quantum Limit SciTechDaily
from news.google.com
The Iranian regime recently massacred perhaps as many as 40,000 of its own people, has been bombarding civilian targets in multiple nations for weeks, and has spent decades practicing international terrorism and domestic tyranny. So, of course, the United Nations just nominated an Iranian representative to its committee overseeing women’s rights and anti-terrorism measures.