New York Democrats—and the broader party in desperate need of a course correction—continue to double, triple, and even quadruple down on all things woke. They’ve now taken it a step further by openly cheerleading socialism and Marxism. This increasingly radical un-American direction, backed by a network of dark money-funded NGOs, has even drawn criticism from prominent figures like JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, who recently described Democrats as “idiots … with big hearts and little brains.”

Democrats “overdid DEI,” Dimon said last week, adding, “I have a lot of friends who are Democrats, and they’re idiots.” 

Dimon isn’t wrong—in fact, he’s spot on. He sees clearly that the party has veered further down a toxic, increasingly un-American path at a time when the Overton Window shifted back toward the center-right after a decade of woke. Yet Democrats seem oblivious to this realignment of what is now socially acceptable in the eyes of the American people. 

Meanwhile, Democrats are testing the waters with socialist Bernie Sanders and Marxist New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, posing for a staged photo op. 

“The Oligarchs are prepared to undermine democracy & spend tens of millions to buy the election for his opponents,” Sanders’ social media team wrote on X, adding, “We will not allow that to happen. Stand with Zohran.” 

Had a great meeting with @ZohranKMamdani and am deeply impressed by the grassroots campaign he is running.

The Oligarchs are prepared to undermine democracy & spend tens of millions to buy the election for his opponents.

We will not allow that to happen. Stand with Zohran. pic.twitter.com/wXTjs8AOJd

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 16, 2025

However, Democrats remain trapped in the elitist mindset that anyone who didn’t attend a liberal arts college is somehow unintelligent. Their supposed war on billionaires is pure political theater, especially given how deeply the party is supported by leftist billionaires through a massive web of dark money-funded NGOs and law firms.

For instance, a New York Post’s deep dive found that Zohran…

The graph. 

🚨 EXPOSED: Working Families Party ran a $2+ million elite-funded coordination scheme in NYC’s 2025 primary while branding it as a “grassroots revolution” 🌱 – systematically violating campaign finance disclosure rules to hide the truth from voters.

WFP had a documented playbook… pic.twitter.com/VpADYtl5my

— Sam E. Antar (@SamAntar) July 16, 2025

And remember, earlier this year, when Bernie and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were flying around the nation in private jets?

Here’s what X users are saying:

Two Democrat Socialists walk into a bar. The bartender asks them what they are drinking. They each order the most expensive drink. When the bartender asks for the money for their drinks, they tell the bartender to charge it to everyone else in the bar.

— General™️ (@TheGeneral_0) July 16, 2025

They keep saying “grassroots” which means he’s 100% being backed by billionaire oligarchs. 😂

— Leeleeliberty (@Leeleeliberty11) July 16, 2025

Yes. Stop Oligarchs like Soros from backing communist candidates!

— Xi Van Fleet (@XVanFleet) July 16, 2025

All the Marxist-Leninist are lining up, sprinkled with some radical Islamists, what could possibly go wrong? https://t.co/JTtVSeFu1Q

— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) July 16, 2025

.  .  . 

Authored by Zena le Roux via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

In much of the Western world, breakfast has become a rushed ritual of sugary cereals, flavored yogurts, and white toast. These habits may feel normal, but they’re far from harmless.

Many common breakfasts are marketed as healthy, but they don’t always give the body what it needs to start the day. What we eat in the morning, or whether we eat at all, can influence everything from our mood and energy to long-term health.

Problems With Common Breakfasts

The biggest concerns with common breakfast items like cereals, pastries, granola bars, or instant oatmeal packets are that they’re often high in sugar and low in protein and fiber. This combination can lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes, noted Mary Curristin, a nutritionist at ART Health Solutions, in an interview with The Epoch Times.

An analysis published in May by U.S. investigators examined children’s breakfast cereals released in the United States between 2010 and 2023. It found that these products have become higher in fat, sugar, and sodium, while their fiber and protein content has dropped. Just one serving of many cereals now contains more than 45 percent of the American Heart Association’s recommended daily added sugar limit for kids.

“These types of breakfasts can cause an initial energy boost followed by a crash, leading to irritability, poor focus, and increased hunger or cravings,” said Curristin.

Over time, eating high-sugar, ultra-processed breakfasts may raise the risk of insulin resistance, weight gain, and imbalances in the gut microbiome, she added.

Misconceptions About Breakfast Foods

One reason people often choose sugary or processed breakfast items is because of fixed ideas about what breakfast is “supposed” to look like. Many Americans view foods like toast, cereal, and pancakes as the only acceptable breakfast options, while more nutritious foods are typically eaten at lunch or dinner. This mindset can limit healthier choices at the start of the day.

In addition, many popular breakfast foods became staples not because they’re nutritious, but because of powerful advertising campaigns.

Researchers also noted that in many other cultures, it’s normal to eat foods at breakfast that Americans typically reserve for later meals.

Thinking About Skipping Breakfast?

Some might wonder, why not just skip breakfast altogether? However, skipping breakfast may come with more downsides than you think.

A large study of approximately 22,000 university students found that skipping breakfast, whether occasionally or regularly, was linked to a wide range of unhealthy behaviors. Students who skipped breakfast were more likely to eat fewer fruits and vegetables, drink more soft drinks, eat more fat and cholesterol, binge drink, and even smoke and gamble.

The effect went beyond physical health. Breakfast skippers were also more likely to report depression, poor sleep, and worse academic performance.

The Importance of a Healthy Breakfast

Why does breakfast matter so much? One reason may be its role in supporting mental clarity and emotional balance.

After a night without food, your body’s stored energy, or glycogen, is running low. Eating breakfast helps refill those stores, giving your brain the glucose it needs to function. That glucose also supports the production of tryptophan, which helps create serotonin—a brain chemical that influences mood, focus, and well-being.

Another study showed that the more often people eat breakfast, the more weight they tend to lose—about 0.5 percent more for each additional day per week—even after adjusting for age, weight, and other factors.

While eating breakfast alone may not lead to weight loss, it seems to support healthier habits like better eating patterns throughout the day.

Part of the reason lies in how a healthy breakfast helps regulate blood sugar and appetite hormones, leading to greater feelings of fullness and fewer energy crashes later in the day. Eating more earlier and less later may also align better with the body’s natural circadian rhythms. The same study found that women who ate a large breakfast lost more than twice as much weight as those who had their biggest meal at dinner, despite both groups eating the same number of calories.

Breakfast Quality Counts

It’s not just whether you eat breakfast that matters, but what’s on your plate.

Breakfasts that are higher in fiber and protein, like those with whole grains, eggs, or dairy, can help boost motivation, attention, and alertness throughout the day.

It has been shown that people who eat fiber-rich breakfasts tend to score higher on the Mediterranean Diet Score—a measure of overall diet quality. Even small increases in breakfast fiber seem to shape healthier food choices later in the day.

In fact, fiber intake at breakfast, especially around 1.5 grams, has been linked to better dinner quality.

On the flip side, having as little as 10 grams of sugar at breakfast was associated with a drop in the nutritional quality of lunch. This means that even modest amounts of sugar in the morning can set off a day of poorer choices.

What a Healthy Breakfast Looks Like

So what does a healthy, balanced breakfast look like in real life?

According to Curristin, the key is combining fiber-rich carbohydrates with protein and healthy fats. Some simple examples include:

• Greek yogurt with whole-grain oats, berries, and nuts
• Eggs on whole-grain toast with avocado
• Overnight oats with chia seeds and fruit

For busy mornings, dietitian nutritionist Melissa Mroz-Planells recommends practical swaps for less nutritious options. Try baked oatmeal bars, breakfast burritos you can prep ahead, or smoothies packed with fruit, leafy greens, and a protein source.

“These are all easy grab-and-go options that offer better nutrition than a sugary pastry or processed bar,” she said.

Mroz-Planells said even leftovers from dinner, like a vegetable stir-fry with tofu or a whole grain bowl with beans, can make a perfectly balanced and satisfying morning meal.

If you go for cereal, Curristin suggested reading the label carefully:

Choose cereals with at least 3 grams of fiber and less than 5 grams of sugar per serving. Look for whole grains, minimal additives, and ideally 3 to 5 grams of protein. Fortification with iron, B vitamins, and vitamin D is also a plus.

“It’s important to aim for something nourishing, even if it’s small,” Curristin said.

“Your first meal sets the tone for the day—focus on stable energy, satiety, and nutrient density.”

Submitted By Thomas Kolbe

In an effort to relieve pressure from France’s ballooning debt crisis, Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National, has called for a reduction in the country’s contribution to the European Union. On the very same day, Brussels unveiled its colossal €2 trillion mega-budget. A tale of chronological dissonance.

It was only a post on “X” – a fleeting tweet from Marine Le Pen responding to the heated French budget debate. A few lines that would normally disappear in the fast-moving timeline and social media noise without ever imprinting themselves on public consciousness.

Le Pen tweeted on July 16:

“François Bayrou wants to implement a ‘white year’ – in other words, a draconian fiscal and social austerity program – to save seven billion euros. That’s exactly the amount by which France’s contribution to the European Union has increased. How can such waste be tolerated, when the French voted overwhelmingly in the EU elections to freeze this spending by supporting Jordan Bardella’s list?”

Brussels as Fiscal Pressure Valve?

France will contribute a net €14 billion to the EU budget this year. But what matters here is the timing of Le Pen’s tweet. Her long-standing disputes with Brussels are well known – especially since her suspension from upcoming French elections.

Her call for budget cuts isn’t new. But the renewed demand gains weight by coinciding with the unveiling of the EU Commission’s new budget under President Ursula von der Leyen.

Reality vs. Ambition

The Brussels central apparatus has drafted a budget of €2 trillion for the years 2028 to 2034 – a staggering display of fiscal gigantism. It’s an anachronism, considering the financial catastrophe looming over many EU member states, not least France, which is headed for a deficit exceeding six percent.

Given the debt situation in Southern Europe, it’s increasingly difficult to reconcile Brussels’ fiscal ambitions with economic realities on the ground.

Strikingly, the reaction to Le Pen’s criticism was muted. Both Brussels and the French government coalition remained silent – arguably a smart media strategy. A public budget debate at this point would only stir a hornet’s nest better left undisturbed.

Populism Included

Le Pen’s assault on Brussels’ budgetary authority carries deep-seated resentment. As the EU’s second-largest net contributor, France is a structural pillar of the Union’s financial framework. Should a heavyweight like France or Germany step out of line and reject the official narrative, the fragile EU edifice would begin to crumble.

We are already witnessing a resurgence of national-conservative parties – Fidesz in Hungary, SMER in Slovakia, the governing coalition in Italy, and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands – all forming a serious opposition to Brussels-style centralism. Le Pen’s laconic tweet could pack explosive potential. Could these parties define a shared vector of attack? Have they identified the bloated EU budget as a weak spot?

It’s high time to recalibrate the power dynamics between Brussels and the legitimate national interests of member states. The fiscal gigantism unleashed under von der Leyen’s leadership is steering the EU into dangerous waters. Centralized overreach, grotesque climate policies, and open-border radicalism are fraying Europe’s internal cohesion.

Brussels Seeks Autonomy

The EU Commission is playing high-stakes poker. The €2 trillion budget – about 1.26 percent of EU GDP – reflects a jaw-dropping 58 percent increase, or €750 billion. That raises urgent questions about financing. Brussels is morphing into a Leviathan – growing unchecked, with gaping democratic deficits, and a leadership ambition that now breaches into the sovereign spheres of nations and their citizens.

The truth is: most EU member states simply cannot afford this fiscal expansion. This appears to be Brussels’ attempt to coerce financial and tax sovereignty – a political extortion play: “If you don’t open the door to Eurobonds, you’ll foot the bill yourselves!”

The recurring debate around Eurobonds – possibly repackaged as war bonds to finance the Ukraine conflict – as well as new revenue tools like taxes on multinational corporations or expanded CO₂ trading, offer a clear glimpse into what Brussels has in store.

Expect two developments: the consolidation of national debt under the EU Commission’s umbrella and the continued monetization of new debt via the European Central Bank. Alongside Brussels’ fiscal power grab, we are likely to see the introduction of a digital euro – the perfect capital control mechanism, an optimized surveillance currency enabling central Brussels to tighten its grip over European economic life.

Fuel For The Opposition

Here’s a prediction: this political strategy will only strengthen opposition forces across Europe. Given the brewing budgetary crises in many states, the EU is headed for major internal battles over its financial direction. A coordinated payment boycott would be the ideal rallying cry for national conservatives – a public relations slam dunk if the debt spiral accelerates.

It is entirely possible that Le Pen’s tweet was designed — in coordination with Brussels’ critics – to set the tone for what’s coming. And a storm may be gathering on the horizon for Ursula von der Leyen and her allies. The myriad unresolved crises stirred up by Brussels’ migration policies and destructive climate agenda have created the ideal conditions for high-impact political counteroffensives – especially against a Commission whose arrogance is wearing thin with a growing share of the European electorate.

* * *

About the author: Thomas Kolbe is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.

In a huge embarrassment for EU leadership, the day following European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen having presented an ambitious some 2 trillion euro, seven-year EU budget in Brussels, the government of Germany has made clear its firm rejection, calling the plan “unacceptable”. 

“A comprehensive increase in the EU budget is unacceptable at a time when all member states are making considerable efforts to consolidate their national budgets,” said Stefan Kornelius, spokesperson for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government in Berlin late Wednesday. “We will therefore not be able to accept the Commission’s proposal.”

The Commission proposed a central EU budget of €1.816 trillion (excluding COVID-19 borrowing repayments), for the period from 2028 to 2034, which marks a massive increase over the current running budget which was formalized in 2021. “Germany, as the EU’s biggest contributor, would be on the hook for about a quarter of that spending,” Bloomberg underscores.

Von der Leyen hailed that this marks “a budget for a new era that reflects Europe’s ambitions” – and further she described “the most ambitious EU budget ever: more strategic, flexible, and transparent. We are investing more in our independence and in our capacity to respond,” according to the statement.

The European Commission has proposed three new taxes, specifically on electronic waste, tobacco products, and high-revenue companies – in an effort repay the EU’s post-Covid debt, which would require an estimated €25-€30 billion annually.

“We do not support the additional corporate taxation put forward by the Commission,” the German Chancellor’s spokesperson continued from Berlin.

Instead, Berlin is calling for the bloc to stick to the Commission’s existing reform agenda and maintaining a focus on strategic priorities within the EU budget. “This direction is the right one to strengthen Europe for the future,” he added.

German conservative leader Merz has all along been consistent on this. “We need to realign the priorities within the EU budget,” Merz said in late June. “New responsibilities should not automatically lead to more spending… and that’s the real challenge we now face.”

FT describes a horribly botched rollout, with members fed up with von der Leyen’s secretive pressure tactics:

Ursula von der Leyen’s plan for the EU’s biggest ever budget has sparked uproar inside the European Commission, with colleagues warning the president’s ultra-centralized style has already compromised the €2tn cash call.

Prepared for months and largely kept secret from von der Leyen’s team of commissioners, the draft 2028-2034 budget plan prompted rare internal pushback that forced significant concessions in the hours before publication.

The revolt has underscored the long-bubbling resentment at her “rubber stamp” approach towards the commission after years of walled-off decision-making that critics say has made Brussels inflexible and prone to mis-steps.

“I have never seen it this bad,” said one senior diplomat from an EU member state who has worked on the past three budget negotiations. “Nobody knew what they were getting or what they were paying until the last minute.”

As expected, the earliest pushback on Wednesday came from Hungary, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban stating on X, “A shocking new EU budget leak reveals a dangerous gamble: Ukraine would get a massive funding boost, while European farmers lose out. This plan risks sidelining rural Europe and threatening families across the continent. Brussels must not abandon Europe’s farmers to bankroll Ukraine.”

Countries like Hungary, as well as Slovakia and Poland – or other conservative/nationalist leaning populations, won’t be comfortable with more ‘rule of law’ strings attached to funding as well:

Another headline-making novelty in von der Leyen’s proposal is her strong focus on the rule of law. Her first mandate saw her executive freeze billions in EU funds for Hungary and Poland over their democratic backsliding and continued legal breaches.

The freezing, however, only covered a share of the allocated funds to the wayward countries, fuelling criticism that the Commission was carelessly allowing taxpayers’ money to flow despite violations of EU law and fundamental rights.

The disputes left a mark on von der Leyen: she now intends to make all funds, from farming subsidies to social policy, conditional on the respect for the rule of law.

“The rule of law is a must for all funding from the EU budget,” she said on Wednesday.

“We will ensure responsible spending and full accountability, with very strong safeguards, and the right incentives. This serves the citizens.”

So clearly, there are plenty of roadblocks possible, given new proposal must be approved unanimously by all 27 EU member states and passed by the European Parliament in negotiations which would likely unfold over two years.

The budget for 2028-2034 must be approved by the end of 2027- and a lot can happen between now and then, particularly regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. The European Commission plans to include a whopping €100 billion in funding for Ukraine as part of this new budget.

Certainly President Trump has voiced wanting to see peace break out long before then, but these efforts haven’t amounted to anything so far. Hungary and Slovakia will have much to say too.

Via Remix News,

After all foreigners were banned from a Swiss swimming pool in Porrentruy over violence, sexual harassment and constant disturbances, Swiss visitors to the pool and employees are generally expressing happiness with the move.

The ban, which came about after “French youths with a migration background” continuously caused problems at the pool and in pool bathrooms, including sexual harassment of young girls. The situation even sparked international headlines.

However, the Swiss paper 20 Minuten reported a surge in season ticket sales after the ban was put in place.

“It went very well. Citizens have rediscovered the bathing establishment with the peace and quiet that comes with it,“ said Lionel Maître, the municipal councilor for tourism and leisure in Porrentruy. “We have seen an increase in season ticket sales as citizens have finally regained the long-awaited sense of security. There have been no problems and no new bathing bans since then.”

Maître said that it had become increasingly noticeable that the perpetrators had Arabic names.

Apollo News also reported that the need for security has suddenly disappeared since the ban on foreigners.

“People were climbing over the fence. They didn’t respect us – not even the security guards,” said Luna Lando, a lifeguard at the Porrentruy outdoor pool. She said her daily routine is now transformed.

“It’s much quieter now,” said Luna in an interview. “There’s no need for security anymore.”

“We wouldn’t have been able to come here anymore if the measures hadn’t been introduced,” Vieira da Silva Aurelie, a swimming instructor from another pool in Switzerland, told German newspaper Welt.

According to Welt, there were repeated thefts at the location, women were whistled at, and boys and men touched girls inappropriately. One mother stated she had forbidden her daughter from visiting the pool due to safety fears.

Even Bild sent a reporter to the pool to cover the reaction to the ban, highlighting just how far-reaching the story has become.

Before the ban, the pool itself had already issued 20 “house bans” on specific individuals from entering the pool area, but this proved insufficient to keep the peace. The problem? The pool is located only a few kilometers from the French border and the city of Belfort. Although the town itself is described as a classic Swiss village, complete with rolling hills filled with grazing cows, the suburbs of Belfort feature troubled foreign youth who consistently cause problems in the neighboring Swiss village.

One 17-year-old student, Alexi, told Bild it is now quiet and thefts have ended.

“It’s better this way. Sometimes we Swiss couldn’t get in at all. Now, it’s quieter, you can swim and there are no more thefts, it couldn’t go on like this, that we Swiss couldn’t go into our own swimming pool anymore,” he said.

A 68-year-old pensioner, Chantalle, agreed, saying: “There were a lot of problems with 15-year-olds that caused stress. The police were there almost every day.“

Foreigners can still enter the pool, but only if they have a work permit in Switzerland or if they are guests at a local hotel that provides pool cards to its guests. However, they have to pay double the price as Swiss citizens, which also serves to restrict the number of foreign guests.

Although the ban targets all foreigners, Bild indicates the true target was the French youths who ruined the peaceful atmosphere at the pool and participated in various crimes.

A 51-year-old teacher, Melanie (51), told Bild: “The problem is that people are simply afraid of large groups that don’t follow the rules in the swimming pool. They come from the suburbs of Belfort in France. These are people who cause problems there, too. Of course, that’s a shame for everyone else who can’t get in anymore, who aren’t criminals.“

However, a cleaning specialist, 38-year-old Said, who has a migrant background, said: “This discriminates against our families. They’re stereotyping all the French now. This is a minority that has sometimes made a bit of a splash here. That’s not good. I’ve been here a lot, and I’ve never experienced much stress here.“

One Swiss woman, Marie, said she did not like the ban. “I go to the swimming pool every day and regret the decision. I saw a lot of French people here and never noticed any problems. I think the decision was made because it was often very crowded here. Maybe too crowded. But you shouldn’t solve this problem like that,” she told Bild.

However, the police in Porrentruy tell a different story, telling Bild that since the start of the season in mid-May, they have been called to the pool several times, including in instances where they had to come “sometimes two or three times an hour.”

There were no criminal complaints ever recorded, only oral complaints. But since the ban came into place, the police have not been called once, although it has only been in place for a short time.

The police would not comment on allegations from the community that French migrant youth were harassing girls. “We’re not allowed to talk about it.” He told the reporter that the media attention to the subject had grown too large, and there were efforts to “muzzle the community.”

Could this type of ban work elsewhere?

The reality is that German newspapers are so interested in this swimming ban due to the crisis at German swimming pools, which have seen young girls sexually assaulted and harassed in large numbers over the years. In addition, thefts, assaults, and general disorder have been prevalent, as Remix News has reported numerous times.

However, while some swimming pools with the unique issue seen in Porrentruy could implement such a ban on foreigners, the widespread issue seen in Germany will not vanish with such a ban. This is due to the fact that the crime and harassment problem presented by foreigners is coming from those who live in the cities and towns already, not from outsiders.

In many cases, these are youths born to foreign parents, and many of them already have German citizenship.

However, an end to the problems involving swimming pools would mean fewer security staff are required, which would lower ticket prices and contribute to a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere within swimming pools. In addition, the appearance of police crisis teams at swimming pools, such as seen in Berlin, would also disappear. Police would then be freed up to handle crime in other areas of the cities of Germany.

Only fundamental changes at the federal level in regards to immigration and crime enforcement will make European swimming pools peaceful and family-friendly places once again.

Read more here…

Authored by RFE/RL staff via OilPrice.com,

• Syria and Azerbaijan pledged to deepen ties, including a landmark Azerbaijani gas export deal via Turkey.

• Iranian media warned of a potential redeployment of Syrian fighters into the Caucasus, heightening regional tensions.

• Reports of Israeli-Syrian contacts in Baku added to Tehran’s suspicion of an anti-Iran alignment involving Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Israel.

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Baku last weekend highlighted a dramatic shift in regional alliances, prompting a mix of concern, suspicion, and strategic recalculation across Iranian media.

Official statements following Sharaa’s meeting with President Ilham Aliyev emphasized a new era in Syrian-Azerbaijani relations. Both leaders acknowledged past stagnation, directly blaming ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s “unfriendly policy” and pledged to restore and deepen cooperation.

Notably, the visit yielded a deal to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey, with officials hailing the agreement as a needed remedy for Syria’s chronic energy crisis.

Meanwhile, various outlets, including Israeli media, claimed that Syrian and Israeli officials met on the sidelines of the trip. It’s unclear whether Sharaa attended the meeting, but the mere occurrence of such a meeting — facilitated by Azerbaijan, Israel’s key ally in the region — has further fueled concerns in Tehran.

Sharaa, a former insurgent known under the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, joined forces with Turkish-backed rebels and, in December 2024, led his Hayat Tahrir al?Sham (HTS) faction in a lightning offensive that ultimately toppled the Iran? and Russia?backed Assad government.

Security Challenges

A shared concern in Iranian media is what is seen as a shifting militant footprint from the Syrian battlefield to the Caucasus — right on Iran’s doorstep.

Arman-e Melli, a pro-reform newspaper, argued that one aspect of the budding relationship between Damascus and Baku will involve the transfer of Syria-based fighters through Turkey into bases in Azerbaijan — a potential development it described as a “mission” for Sharaa.

It is speculated that their presence is meant to destabilize areas along the borders of Iran and Russia and to carry out operations targeting the broader axis of China, Russia, and Iran.

The conservative newspaper Farhikhtegan struck a similar tone, arguing that Sharaa sees the redeployment of his fighters to meet a US demand to expel foreign fighters from Syria. Under such a plan, the paper said, Azerbaijan would emerge as a strategic hub; either a staging ground for further infiltration into the Caucasus and Russia or a site for settlement in areas such as Karabakh.

A ‘Message’ To Iran

Israel’s i24NEWS network, citing an unnamed Syrian source, claimed that Israel and the United States had made a decision for Baku to host a meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials to “send a message to Iran.”

Referencing the report, Iran’s state broadcaster-run Jam-e Jam newspaper charged that given Baku’s track record of alleged involvement in anti-Iranian operations over the years, and suspicions about its cooperation with Israel during last month’s war, this could well be taken as “clear evidence” that some neighboring countries are working with Israel against Iran.

Jam-e Jam specifically named Azerbaijan and its allies, Turkey and Israel, as the countries involved in “shaping new dynamics that work against Iran’s interests.”

The paper argued that ultimately Iran will need to safeguard its national interests with both diplomatic and security savvy, including strengthening ties with neighbors such as Armenia and Russia, and taking a firm stand against “Baku’s provocations.”

Tehran has watched with growing concern as Azerbaijan forges ever?closer links with Israel.

In recent years, the partnership has significantly expanded, highlighted by deepening defense collaboration and Baku’s decision to open an embassy in Tel Aviv in 2023 — developments that have only heightened Iranian mistrust.

Iran’s president, Masud Pezeshkian, last month pressed Aliyev to “investigate and verify” reports that Israeli drones, including micro-drones, had crossed into Iranian airspace through Azerbaijani territory during the 12-day war that ended in a ceasefire on June 24.

Aliyev rejected the allegations, affirming that his government would never permit Azerbaijani territory to be used against Iran.

A 54-pound fragment of Mars, dislodged by a cosmic collision and hurled 140 million miles to Earth, became the most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction on Wednesday. But it was a rare young dinosaur skeleton that captured the spotlight – fetching more than $30 million in a frenzied bidding battle.

The meteorite, named NWA 16788, sold for $5.3 million after fees at Sotheby’s auction of rare geological and archaeological objects. Described by Sotheby’s as the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth, the rock was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter scouring the Sahara Desert in Niger. Pre-sale estimates had placed its value between $2 million and $4 million.

“This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice chairman for science and natural history, ahead of the auction. Measuring nearly 15 inches long, the meteorite accounts for nearly 7 percent of all known Martian material on Earth.

But while bidding for the Martian rock unfolded in careful increments – often coaxed along by the auctioneer – the atmosphere shifted when a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton took center stage.

Only four Ceratosaurus skeletons are known to exist, according to Sotheby’s, and this specimen—the only juvenile among them—was fiercely contested. After opening at $6 million, the bidding surged in $500,000 and then $1 million increments, drawing gasps from the audience as six bidders drove the price to $26 million before fees.

The official sale price, with premiums included, came to $30.5 million, making it the third-most expensive dinosaur skeleton ever sold at auction. The buyer, whose identity was not disclosed, plans to loan the skeleton to a public institution.

Assembled from 140 fossilized bones unearthed in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, the juvenile Ceratosaurus stands more than six feet tall and stretches nearly 11 feet long. Its lineage dates back some 150 million years to the late Jurassic period. For comparison, adult Ceratosaurus specimens could grow up to 25 feet long—smaller than their more famous Tyrannosaurus rex cousins, which reached lengths of 40 feet.

The skeleton’s dramatic sale reflects a growing appetite among private collectors and institutions for rare paleontological specimens. Last year, Sotheby’s sold a Stegosaurus skeleton nicknamed “Apex” for a record-setting $44.6 million.

By contrast, the Martian meteorite’s record-breaking result unfolded with less spectacle. Two pre-auction offers, $1.9 million and $2 million, set the stage for a steady sequence of modest live bids. Final bidding stalled at $4.3 million, before fees lifted the total.

Scientific analysis confirmed that NWA 16788 is an “olivine-microgabbroic shergottite,” a type of volcanic rock formed from slowly cooling magma beneath Mars’s surface. Testing by a specialized lab matched its chemical composition to Martian samples first analyzed by NASA’s Viking landers in the 1970s.

The meteorite’s pitted glassy exterior – a result of superheating during atmospheric entry – offered the first clue that it was not, as Hatton said, “just some big rock on the ground.”

Both the meteorite and the dinosaur skeleton now stand as trophies of scientific and natural history, as well as reminders of the market’s growing fascination with relics from Earth’s past—and Mars’s distant terrain.

Authored by Frank Fang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)

The bipartisan leaders of a House committee are urging the FBI to halt the certification of biometric products manufactured by Chinese tech companies, citing risks to U.S. national security.

In a letter dated July 15 to FBI Director Kash Patel, Reps. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), chair and ranking member, respectively, of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said that biometric products from 32 Chinese companies are currently on the agency’s Certified Products List.

The FBI should “put an end to its ongoing certification of products from Chinese military-linked and surveillance companies … that could be used to spy on Americans, strengthen the repressive surveillance state of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and otherwise threaten U.S. national security,” the lawmakers wrote.

Among the 32 companies, the lawmakers highlighted Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, which was added to the Commerce Department’s Entity List in 2019 over its involvement in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) human rights violations in China’s far-western Xinjiang region. In 2021, Hikvision was designated as a company linked to China’s military-industrial complex in an executive order.

Currently on the FBI list is Hikvision’s HK300 PIV “single finger capture device,” which was certified on Jan. 15.

“Including these products on the Certified Products List grants these companies the FBI’s seal of approval, which they can leverage to market their products as FBI-approved to customers in the U.S. government, elsewhere in the United States, and around the globe,” the letter reads.

“This sends a dangerous signal to potential buyers that these companies’ products are trustworthy and heightens the risk that these products will be procured by U.S. government entities or contractors despite the security risks.

“It also sends conflicting messages about U.S. policy toward companies with ties to the PRC’s military-industrial complex.”

Among the 32 Chinese companies, the lawmakers said that at least 14 of them “maintain concerning ties to the Chinese military and intelligence services.”

One such company is Beijing Hisign Technology. According to the letter, Beijing Hisign “maintains partnerships” with Chinese technology companies Huawei and Inspur, both of which are identified by the Pentagon as “Chinese military companies.”

The FBI list includes several models of Beijing Hisign’s fingerprint scanner products, with the most recent one certified in January 2022.

On its website explaining its automatic fingerprint identification system, Beijing Hisign states that it is in “compliance with international standards set by ANSI/NIST and the FBI.”

Another company cited by the lawmakers, Shenzhen Cama Biometric, states that its fingerprint recognition technology is certified by China’s Ministry of Public Security and is advertised for use in government, military, and military industrial applications, according to the letter.

Cama Biometric’s fingerprint scanner, modeled CAMA-AFM360V3, is on the FBI list and was certified in June last year.

On its product page explaining that model, Cama Biometric describes it as “FBI certified.”

Beijing Eyecool Technology, formerly known as Techshino, is another company named in the letter. The lawmakers noted that its biometric systems “now underpin the CCP’s pervasive surveillance infrastructure, including ‘Skynet,’ where Eyecool’s platforms reportedly handle over two million daily facial captures in a single city, and continue tos support PLA programs.”

PLA is an acronym for China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.

Skynet is widely known as a tool for spying on ordinary Chinese citizens and silencing dissidents. The CCP has promoted the surveillance system as a means of fighting crime.

The FBI’s most recent certification of a product from Beijing Eyecool occurred in June 2023.

Other Chinese companies named in the letter include Chongqing Huifan Technology, Miaxis Biometrics, Shenzhen Dotu Technology, Tlink Technology, and Zhejiang Wellcom Technology.

The two lawmakers asked the FBI to “immediately review all PRC-based companies whose products are on the Certified Products List and check them against existing U.S. government sanctions, entity lists, and security determinations.”

They requested a written response from the agency addressing their concerns within 30 days. 

When contacted by The Epoch Times, the FBI said it had received the letter but declined to comment on it.

NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, announced Thursday that efforts are underway to expedite the delivery of additional Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, amid nightly waves of drone and missile attacks which are regularly in the hundreds.

“We’re working closely with the Germans on transferring the Patriots,” Grynkewich said during a major defense conference in Wiesbaden, Germany happening this week. “The directive I’ve received is to act as swiftly as possible.”

Grynkewich emphasized that timing and logistics are key concerns in getting the systems delivered to Ukraine. “As Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed out, existing systems in Europe can be deployed faster than those coming off production lines,” he explained. “Those new units can then replace the ones sent to Ukraine.”

Last year controversy was unleashed among European allies when NATO command leaned hard on countries like Spain and Greece to give up their Patriot systems for the cause of Ukraine – and Greece immediately balked, given it sees itself as under constant threat from Turkey.

Grynkewich did admit that it’s still unclear how many Patriot batteries can be made available. “There’s more to come -we’re moving as fast as we can,” the commander added.

President Donald Trump has lately expressed disgust at the record numbers of suicide drones striking Ukrainian cities. While he has not approved long-range offensive weapons for Kiev, he has indicated readiness to ramp up anti-air defense systems.

On Tuesday, Trump did confirm that some Patriots sourced from Germany were already en route to Ukraine.

Following a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth earlier in the week, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signaled that a final decision on sending two additional US Patriot systems to Ukraine could be reached within days or weeks. Earlier in the conflict Berlin had already supplied three of its Patriot batteries to the Ukrainians.

The Raytheon-made system is seen by Ukraine’s military as the most vital system in its arsenal to protect against ongoing Russian aerial attacks.

In another part of Grynkewich speech, he highlighted the possibility of a joint China-Russia attack meant to bog down European forces, as China takes Taiwan:

The U.S.-led NATO alliance must prepare for the possibility that Russia and China could launch wars in Europe and the Pacific simultaneously, with 2027 being a potential flashpoint year, the top American commander in Europe said Thursday.

“We’re going to need every bit of kit and equipment and munitions that we can in order to beat that,” Grynkewich said. If China’s President Xi Jinping makes a move on Taiwan, he likely would coordinate such an attack with Russian President Vladimir Putin, opening the possibility of a global conflict, he said. “That, to me, means that both of these things could happen together,” said Grynkewich, who also serves as NATO supreme allied commander.

But there’s an obvious contradiction present in a speech where he’s on the one hand saying the West needs to get Ukraine all the defensive systems it needs as fast as possible, and on the other the West must be prepared for conflict with both China and Russia within a few short years.

Despite the glaring policy contradictions, in the end, Raytheon and the major defense contractors will win again.