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Friday, April 24, 2026
16 minutes ago
News
TECH

Eric Trump-Backed Robot Startup Secures $24M Pentagon Deal to Challenge China.

The U.S. military is investing millions of dollars in Foundation Future Industries to develop advanced humanoid robots to compete with China and maintain military superiority.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon has awarded a $24 million contract to Foundation Future Industries to develop and test humanoid robots for military use. The heavy-duty robots are designed to break into enemy sites, reduce the risk to American soldiers during military operations, and ensure the United States maintains a competitive edge against China. Notably, Eric Trump, son of President Donald J. Trump, is a chief strategy advisor at Foundation Future Industries.
📺 DETAIL: Developed by Foundation Future Industries, the “Phantom” robots are built for fluid movement, physical strength, and adaptability to human environments. The company has developed the Phantom Mark 1, an early-production robot, and the Phantom Mark 2, a mass-manufacturing robot. Eric Trump emphasized the urgent need for the United States to win the technology race, citing significant strides in robotics by China.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We are America First. We have to win this race. The uses are unlimited, and I think it’s a very beautiful thing, but we must win this race.” – Eric Trump
🎯 IMPACT: The investment underscores the U.S. government’s focus on leveraging cutting-edge technology to maintain military superiority, and the readiness of the Pentagon to pay millions of dollars for the privilege.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this month, China held a robot marathon, in which long-distance humanoid robots broke world records in the half-marathon. Previously, China unveiled a short-distance humanoid robot that approached Olympic sprinting gold medalist Usain Bolt’s record-breaking average speed.

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The U.S. military is investing millions of dollars in Foundation Future Industries to develop advanced humanoid robots to compete with China and maintain military superiority.

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14 hours ago
News
War

REPORT: Iran’s Hidden Supreme Leader Needs Prosthetic Leg, Plastic Surgery.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly requires a prosthetic leg and multiple surgeries, and has severe burns to his face.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, is reportedly awaiting a prosthetic leg and will require facial surgery after being severely injured in an Israeli air strike, likely the same one that killed his father, former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Selected in March, the younger Khamenei has not yet been seen in public, fueling speculation on his condition, and even whether he is still alive.
📰 DETAIL: The New York Times, citing “four senior Iranian officials familiar with [Khamenei’s] health,” reports that Khamenei may have undergone at least three surgeries on his leg and one on his hand. His face and lips, said to have been extensively burned, will require plastic surgery. Access to Khamenei is claimed to be extremely restricted, with senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members and government officials not meeting with him directly, due to fears that Israeli or American forces could track and target visitors. Israel has previously carried out precision assassination strikes on much of the leadership of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

💬 KEY QUOTE: “” Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯 IMPACT: The secrecy surrounding Khamenei’s condition and location complicates Iran’s diplomatic efforts, as uncertainty persists over who can officially represent the nation in peace talks. President Donald J. Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran, citing issues with Iran’s leadership, which appears fractured and unable to agree on a comprehensive plan for peace. Despite the severity of his injuries, reports claim Khamenei remains mentally astute and engages with matters of state, although IRGC commanders handle much of the day-to-day running of the country on their own initiative.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly requires a prosthetic leg and multiple surgeries, and has severe burns to his face.

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14 hours ago
War

Iran Claims It Has Started Banking Hormuz Toll Revenue.

Iranian lawmakers claim the country has started depositing revenue from its toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and that it is “in control” of the crucial waterway.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Iranian lawmakers claim the country has started depositing toll revenue collected from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz into the state central bank. Hamidreza Hajibabaei, Deputy Speaker of the Iranian parliament, claimed on Thursday, “We have control over this Strait,” adding: “We are not engaged in negotiations—rather, we are making demands.”
📺 DETAIL: The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for the global oil and fertilizer trade, and has been blockaded by Iran since the onset of hostilities with the U.S. and Israel in late February. While the waterway is supposed to be open as a condition of the recently extended ceasefire with the U.S., Iran is attempting to extract toll revenue from ships as a condition of passage, with Iranian lawmaker Alireza Salimi saying on Thursday, “The amount collected from each ship depends on its cargo and level of risk they pose. Iran determines how much and how these fees are collected, in other words, we determine the rules.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We have control over this Strait. If the United States continues on its current course, no vessels will pass through the Strait of Hormuz.” – Hamidreza Hajibabaei
🎯 IMPACT: Obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, straining global energy markets and raising gas prices in the United States. Notably, while the reliability of Iranian claims about toll collections, often made via state and state-aligned media, is in question, reports do indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been laying mines in the strait this week, prompting President Donald J. Trump to order the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any boats found to be engaged in such activities. The U.S. is also maintaining a retaliatory blockade against Iranian ships in the region.

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Iranian lawmakers claim the country has started depositing revenue from its toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and that it is "in control" of the crucial waterway.

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15 hours ago
News
War

Iran Lays More Mines In Strait Of Hormuz, Trump Orders Navy to ‘Shoot And Kill’ Boats.

Iran is laying more mines in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil supply and prompting President Donald J. Trump to issue a “shoot and kill” order against minelaying boats.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy has laid additional mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week, further obstructing the critical global energy chokepoint. The move follows the U.S. extending a ceasefire with Iran, but an escalating military standoff, with the U.S. tightening a naval blockade against Iranian ships.
📰 DETAIL: The U.S. military previously estimated that over 90 percent of Iran’s mine-laying ships and warehouses had been destroyed, but realized it was likely that stockpiles remained hidden along the country’s shores. These stockpiled mines are being deployed by dozens of small, lightly armed speedboats still in operation after the conventional navy was extensively destroyed by U.S. strikes. President Donald J. Trump announced on Thursday that he has ordered the destruction of any boats caught laying mines, despite the wider ceasefire.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now.” – President Trump on Truth Social
🎯 IMPACT: The newly-laid mines will likely exacerbate what the International Energy Agency has termed the largest oil supply disruption in history, surpassing the 1970s oil shocks. With 20 percent of the world’s seaborne oil and much of its fertilizer passing through the strait, the disruption has already significantly reduced traffic.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Iran is laying more mines in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil supply and prompting President Donald J. Trump to issue a "shoot and kill" order against minelaying boats.

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16 hours ago
Data
News

Almost 115,000 Residents Fled New York City in 2025.

A new study reveals New York City lost more residents than it gained in 2025, driven by major affordability issues.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A new study by the Citizens’ Budget Commission has revealed that New York City lost 114,000 more residents than it gained in 2025. This continues a trend of population decline caused by people abandoning NYC for other cities.
📺 DETAIL: Fresh data from the Citizens’ Budget Commission, a non-profit public finances watchdog, published on Monday, has revealed that more people are leaving New York City than moving there. The report showed that this exodus occurred across all income levels. It also noted a large number of low and middle-income residents leaving between 2023 and 2024. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pledged to address affordability issues through initiatives such as rent freezes. However, rising property taxes, along with rising electricity and water bills remain major obstacles to living in the city.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Across all income levels, more people moved out of New York City than moved in last year.” – Citizens’ Budget Commission report.
🎯 IMPACT: NYC’s population decline underscores the city’s high cost of living. The exodus also indicates a growing intolerance towards social problems such as crime, homelessness, and drug use. Similar trends have been observed in other major cities, such as San Francisco, where rising costs of living and declining quality of life drive even longtime residents elsewhere.
📺 FLASHBACK: The state of Democrat-run cities has become a source of concern for the Trump administration. This data follows a report from last year suggesting that Republican-controlled cities have a generally better quality of life.

Image by Marc A. Hermann / MTA.

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A new study reveals New York City lost more residents than it gained in 2025, driven by major affordability issues.

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17 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Trump DOJ Moves to Revoke Citizenship of Hundreds of Naturalized Immigrants.

The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to revoke the U.S. citizenship of hundreds of naturalized citizens, assigning cases to regular prosecutors to expedite the process.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has identified 384 foreign-born Americans for potential denaturalization, assigning the cases to regular prosecutors to increase the pace of revocations. The move marks a significant shift from the traditional, much slower process of handling such cases through the immigration litigation office at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
📰 DETAIL:  Under federal law, citizenship can only be stripped if it was obtained fraudulently or through serious misconduct, and the government must prove its case in court, making such actions difficult and time-consuming. Officials say the push is aimed at rooting out individuals who lied or concealed disqualifying information during the naturalization process. The initiative reflects a broader policy shift to prioritize denaturalization, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) increasing referrals and the DOJ at the highest volume in history. Traditionally, denaturalization cases were handled by specialized immigration litigators, but expanding responsibility to regular prosecutors could significantly increase the number of cases processed. The move follows earlier directives encouraging agencies to refer hundreds of potential denaturalization cases each month.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Citizenship fraud is a serious crime; anyone who has broken the law and obtained citizenship through fraud and deceit will be held accountable.” – Abigail Jackson, White House spokesman.
🎯 IMPACT: This initiative could lead to a significant increase in denaturalizations, potentially stripping citizenship of many who were able to acquire citizenship by fraudulent means. The move is part of President Donald J. Trump’s promises to crack down on both illegal immigration and immigration fraud. Notably, Vice President J.D. Vance said in March that the administration thinks Somalia-born Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) “definitely committed immigration fraud” and that an investigation into possible remedies is underway.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to revoke the U.S. citizenship of hundreds of naturalized citizens, assigning cases to regular prosecutors to expedite the process.

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17 hours ago
Crime
World

DOJ Recovers $700M from Chinese Crypto Scammers.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the recovery of $700 million from Chinese cryptocurrency scammers and efforts to return it to its American victims.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that $700 million seized from Chinese cryptocurrency scammers will be returned to American victims. The funds, which had been restrained to prevent further movement within blockchain systems, are now being processed for redistribution.
📺 DETAIL: U.S. Attorney Pirro outlined a series of coordinated actions by the Scam Center Strike Force against scam centers in Southeast Asia, including criminal charges against two Chinese nationals managing a cryptocurrency fraud compound in Burma. $700 million in stolen assets have been secured, but while the funds are safe, distributing them will take time. Pirro said the department remains committed to reuniting victims with their stolen money following verification. “It is a long and rigorous process to get that money into the hands of those victims that they belong to. We’re on it,” Pirro said.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We have charged the Chinese bosses who ran a scam compound in Burma, where trafficked workers were beaten and forced to steal from Americans. We have seized a Telegram channel that was luring workers into a forced labor compound in Cambodia where they were ordered to pose as U.S. banks and NYPD to steal Americans’ life savings.” – Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
🎯 IMPACT: The return of these funds could provide financial relief to victims of sophisticated crypto scams, though the process is expected to take significant time due to the complexities of identifying rightful recipients. Notably, the case reflects only a small part of the crypto scam industry that is stealing Americans’ wealth. In 2023 alone, the FBI estimated that Americans lost as much as $5.6 billion to crypto scammers.

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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the recovery of $700 million from Chinese cryptocurrency scammers and efforts to return it to its American victims.

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18 hours ago
News

Trump: King’s Visit Could Mend US-UK Relations.

President Donald J. Trump has expressed optimism that the upcoming state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom to the United States could mend relations between the two countries.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to embark on a four-day state visit to the United States starting Monday, meeting with President Donald J. Trump and giving an address to Congress. Speaking to the BBC on Thursday, President Trump said the monarch’s trip, intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, could “absolutely” mend relations between the two countries, which have frayed over the Iran war.
📺 DETAIL: President Trump expressed optimism about the upcoming state visit of Charles and Camilla to the United States, describing the state visit as highly likely to strengthen British-American relations. Asked by the BBC if the visit could mend relations between Britain and the U.S., which have frayed due to differences over the Iran war, Trump said, “Absolutely. He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I know him well, I’ve known him for years. He’s a brave man, and he’s a great man. They would absolutely be a positive,” Trump said of the King.
🎯 IMPACT: The visit comes as geopolitical challenges strain the oft-described “Special Relationship” between Britain and America. President Trump previously called for greater British involvement in the Iran war and criticized British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s energy and immigration policies. The Trump administration has also taken a critical of the British censorship regime, even sanctioning a pro-censorship activist linked to Starmer.
📺 FLASHBACK: In September last year, President Trump was invited to the United Kingdom by King Charles and Queen Camilla for an unprecedented second state visit. No U.S. President has received more than one state visit to the United Kingdom.

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President Donald J. Trump has expressed optimism that the upcoming state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom to the United States could mend relations between the two countries.

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19 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

Amnesty Bill Author Admits It Is for ‘Big Business to Have Cheap Labor.’

Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL) has admitted that her proposed “Dignidad” (Dignity) mass amnesty bill is in large part about “help[ing] big business to have cheap labor.”

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Florida Republican Rep. Maria Salazar is promoting her Dignidad (Dignity) mass amnesty bill as a solution to labor shortages, confirming at a Wednesday press conference in Washingston, D.C.: “When people tell me that I am trying to help big business to have cheap labor, I’m going to answer them: It’s not [just] big business; it’s not only agricultural or construction or hospitality or health care or manufacturing—it’s more.” The bill would grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and block deportations.
📺 DETAIL: Salazar suggested the Dignidad amnesty would lower costs by driving down wages, arguing, “Americans want affordability, and they want affordable vegetables and fruits.” Notably, regularizing millions of illegals and giving them the right to work would likely have a particular impact on the job opportunities and pay for younger and lower-skilled Americans, at a time when goals such as getting on the property ladder are already increasingly out of reach.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The President is a very smart guy. He comes from hospitality and from construction. Do I have to tell him that those [migrants] are needed [in] those five sectors, construction, hospitality, agriculture, health care, and manufacturing?” – Rep. Salazar
🎯 IMPACT: Salazar’s amnesty would dramatically undermine the “mass deportations” pledge President Donald J. Trump ran on in 2024, putting the interests of illegals and big business ahead of American workers. Notably, the Wednesday press conference was organized by a subsidiary of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), whose executive director, Rebecca Shi, is a Chinese immigrant. Shi, whose mother was subject to a deportation order for 19 years, stated openly at the conference, “Work permits for long-term immigrants lower costs.”

Image by World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.

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Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL) has admitted that her proposed "Dignidad" (Dignity) mass amnesty bill is in large part about "help[ing] big business to have cheap labor."

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20 hours ago
Health
TECH
UK

500,000 Biobank Health Patients’ Data Are Being Sold in China.

Sensitive health data from the UK Biobank, involving 500,000 participants, was found listed for sale on Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce platform, raising concerns about international data security.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Sensitive medical data from 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank health data project was listed for sale on Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce platform, the British government confirmed on Thursday. The leak has prompted an investigation by UK Biobank and the British government. While the data did not include any names or contact details, it did include other types of personal information, such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and biological sample measures.
📺 DETAIL: Data from the UK Biobank, a major taxpayer-funded health research project which stores de-identified biological samples for half a million people, was found listed for sale on Alibaba, one of the largest retail companies in the world. The UK Biobank uses biological samples from volunteers to conduct research into diseases such as cancer, dementia, and Parkinson’s. The data was from participants aged between 40 and 69, who were recruited between 2006 and 2010. The breach was reported to the British government on Monday. The data was acquired legitimately by three accredited academic institutions, however, soon after it was downloaded, it appeared on Alibaba.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We want to reassure you that all the data are de-identified; they do not contain any personally identifying information,” claimed Professor Sir Rory Collins, UK Biobank’s chief executive.
🎯 IMPACT: The listings have since been removed from Alibaba, and the individuals involved in the leak have had their UK Biobank access suspended. In response to the breach, the charity has implemented stricter security measures, such as daily monitoring of file exports, and announced a full forensic investigation. The data breach constitutes a blatant violation of contractual agreements by the three academic institutions that requested the data. The breach also raises broader concerns about the security of sensitive health data and may affect people’s willingness to volunteer for medical projects, potentially slowing the pace of medical progress.
📺 FLASHBACK: In late 2021, the Chinese Communist Party penalized Alibaba for alerting the world to a highly threatening software vulnerability. In response, the Chinese Communist Party’s National Network Security Information Sharing Platform suspended Alibaba for informing the Chinese government first.

Image by David Lally.

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Sensitive health data from the UK Biobank, involving 500,000 participants, was found listed for sale on Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce platform, raising concerns about international data security.

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