National Catholic Reporter • 07/04/2025

One Big Beautiful Bill 'takes from the poor to give to the wealthy,' USCCB says

Demonstrators on wheelchairs protest outside the office of Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, regarding the proposed cuts to Medicaid, on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 11, 2025. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Learn more

As the Trump administration rallied Senate Republicans to pass the president's broad policy bill, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly condemned its proposed cuts to Medicaid benefits, the Supplemental...

The Mirror US • 07/03/2025

SNAP cuts in Trump's bill leave 40 million recipients at risk of food poverty

The centerpiece of President Donald Trump's legislative agenda which he has been calling the "big, beautiful bill" will put further strain on low-income Americans and increase food insecurity, experts have warned.

Embodying an expansion of Trump's tax cut vision from his first term, the bill not only carries forward these reductions but also provisions for military funding and pursues his momentous deportation ambitions through cuts to Medicaid, energy funding, and various food aid initiatives,...

National Catholic Reporter • 06/26/2025

ICE agents detain migrants on church grounds at 2 California parishes, diocese says

The badge of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is seen in this undated illustration photo. (OSV News/Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Learn more

Federal agents have detained migrants on Catholic Church property at two parishes in Southern California's San Bernardino Diocese as the Trump administration tosses aside decades-old norms that fear of arrest or harassment should not deter people from practicing their religion.
"It...

The Mirror US • 06/11/2025

Storms could wreck Trump’s $45M birthday parade

President Donald Trump's military parade, which is scheduled to be held on June 14 in Washington, D.C., and may cost somewhere up to $45 million to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and coincides with his 79th birthday, may run into some weather challenges, an expert said.

Accuweather senior meteorologist Thomas Kines predicted a "warm and humid evening," which may feel like the mid-80s.

"Looks like a warm and humid evening for the parade with temperatures around 80 degrees, b...

The Mirror US • 06/06/2025

Trump and Musk’s 'carnival' is a 'dogfight' distracting voters from major crisis

A day after tensions between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump erupted into a "carnival" of blame and accusations, an expert said that the event shifted focus from more important issues at hand.

"This is a natural billionaire Battle royale. You're seeing the carnival unleash in front of the world with two men with a very strong sense of self," Eric Schiffer, a well-known author, entrepreneur, and political pundit, told The Mirror US. "When you have two powerful personalities who are used to...

The Mirror US • 06/04/2025

Trump warned over Musk nuclear option at Midterms as Republicans on the brink

After Elon Musk went on an explosive rant on Twitter, calling Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' a "disgusting abomination" a few days after his formal exit as a special government employee heading the Department of Government Efficiency, an expert said that their "escalating tensions" may impact the midterm results next November.

"It's not a good thing for their relationship on a public stage," Eric Schiffer, a well-known author, entrepreneur, and political pundit, told The Mirror US. "While I don'...

The Mirror US • 05/20/2025

'Possible' to have missed Biden's 'highest-risk' prostate cancer

As social media is rife with conspiracies surrounding former President Joe Biden's aggressive cancer diagnosis, an expert has debunked such rumors, saying that it is entirely "possible" for screening tests to have missed early signs.

Biden's office announced on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, with the former president exploring "treatment options."

"Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary sympt...

The Mirror US • 05/03/2025

Autism mom slams RFK Jr. for cruel 'never pay taxes' attack on kids like hers

Nicole Clark remembers the time when she first found out about her older daughter's autism diagnosis five years ago. While she grieved and struggled to come to terms with it, family support helped her get through as she tried to navigate accessing resources to best help her daughter.

As the co-founder and CEO of Adult and Pediatric Institute for Health and Wellness, Clark remained committed to helping families get through the process and access proper information to provide the best possible ca...

Daily Express US • 01/11/2025

Trump has 'colonial historical mindset' over Greeland but will fail, says expert

What did Trump say about using military force to acquire Greenland?At a press conference, a reporter asked Trump if he could "assure the world" against using "military or economic coercion" to control Greenland and the Panama Canal, to which the incoming President responded, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two." freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({placementName:"the-express_fs-in-line-secondary-slot",slotId:"the-express_fs-in-line-secondary-slot"}) "Trump’s suggestion of using militar...

Daily Express US • 12/25/2024

Drone warning issued as mystery sightings surge - new tech used to fight back

"Most people didn't really think about it until two weeks ago but drone violations happen every single day. Not just one, thousands of them every day," said Mary-Lou Smulders, the Chief Marketing Officer at Dedrone.Generally, a drone cannot be flown within a controlled airspace around an airport without FAA authorization, over national security sensitive facilities and military bases, national landmarks as well as over airspace covered by Temporary Flight Restrictions that are imposed by the FAA...

Daily Express US • 12/25/2024

Denmark increased defense budget after Trump's Greenland plan — 'No coincidence'

"For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," he said.However, Greenland's elected Prime Minister released a statement where he said: "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."Greenlandic reactions with the US are "worth noticing," said Jacobsen.During his first term, Trump had expressed similar...

Daily Express US • 12/18/2024

Expert pinpoints four warning signs of a child plotting mass murder

In the aftermath of the violent school shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, carried out by a 15-year-old student, an expert discussed the various stressors and signs that might indicate the unfolding of such a tragedy. Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, opened fire in the Abundant Life Christian School on Monday, killing two-  a teacher and a student - and injuring seven. She later pulled the gun on herself, and...

Daily Express US • 12/18/2024

First severe human bird flu illness from dead bird found in backyard

A patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu virus in Louisiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a statement.This is the "first instance of severe illness" linked to the H5N1 virus in the United States which was confirmed on Friday, Dec. 13.Since April, there have been a total of 61 human infections in the nation. The investigation into the source of the infection is underway. However, the CDC determined that the patient was exposed to sick and dead...

Daily Express US • 12/15/2024

New 2025 lawsuit challenge the meatpacking industry's

Following Donald Trump's first term that led to several deregulatory measures in the meatpacking industry including ones that would "cost taxpayer dollars," an animal law expert is concerned about what a second Trump term might mean for the meatpacking industry.As a result, a new lawsuit will appeal against a 2019 US Department of Agriculture deregulation that threatens the spread of zoonotic diseases in humans.President-elect Donald Trump's second term is worrying her, admitted Delcianna Winder...

Daily Express US • 12/14/2024

Luigi Mangione's 'halo effect' led to cult-like popularity after UHC's murder

"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," his family said in a statement posted on X by Mangione's cousin, Nino Mangione, a Republican member of the lower house of Maryland’s state legislature."We only know what we have read in the media," the statement continued, adding, "Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson, and we ask people to pray for all involved."While Mangione is yet to be convicted...

Daily Express US • 12/08/2024

Syria's fallen First Lady who bought $4,000 crystal shoes as her people starved

Assad was not alone. His wife, the disgraced First Lady, Asma al-Assad was also seen indulging in decadence and opulence as more than 300,000 Syrian civilians died with another 6.7 million displaced.Here's what we know about Asma al-Assad, President Assad's wife.Who is Asma al-Assad? When did she become the First Lady of Syria?Asma al-Assad, 49, was born and raised in London to Syrian parents. She graduated with a degree in computer science and French literature from King's College London and pu...

Daily Express US • 12/02/2024

Israel threatens total ban on Muslim call to prayer as tensions explode

Ben-Gvir told Channel 12 that he was "proud" to move forward with the policy of "stopping unreasonable noise from mosques and other sources that has become a hazard for Israel’s residents."Arab Islamist Ra'am party chair Mansour Abbas appealed to the Israeli government to "restrain the instigator of the religious war" on X."I appeal to the sane in the government and the State of Israel to restrain the instigator of the religious war Ben-Gvir who is trying to fan the flames and drag the Muslim Ar...

Daily Express US • 11/27/2024

Israel warned over 'extremely dangerous' next move

Following months of neverending airstrikes, the proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire term that will see Israeli troops withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah militant fighters and weapons removed from the south of the Litani River."Any ceasefire, regardless of the conditions under which there was an agreement, it's good. The moment you stop killing people, the moment you start destroying properties and infrastructure is good," Dr. Ben-Meir said. "The question will be, can we build on it?" freestar....

The New York Times • 11/27/2024

The Sidewalk Fruit Vendor Who Sold a $6.2 Million Banana for 25 Cents

At the fruit stand where he works on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Shah Alam sells dozens of bananas a day at 35 cents a piece, or four for a dollar. He does a brisk business in cheap fruit outside Sotheby’s auction house; inside, art can sell for millions.But last Wednesday, Mr. Alam sold a banana that a short time later would be auctioned as part of a work of absurdist art, won by a cryptocurrency entrepreneur for $5.2 million plus more than $1 million in auction-house fees.A few days after the...

Daily Express US • 11/24/2024

NATO issued warning as 'nuclear dice' thrown with 'Zelensky fatigue' setting in

The problem with this "axis" is that it reverberates through the nations when either one is impacted."I think it's a worst-case scenario threat. It's unfortunate but this conflict is indeed escalating and indeed going more and more global," McFate explained. freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({placementName:"the-express_fs_articles_incontent",slotId:"the-express_fs_articles_incontent-1"}) However, both experts agree that it is a "bit of a stretch" and "premature" to call this the start of World...

Daily Express US • 11/23/2024

Expert says AI solar-powered 'electronic nose' can prevent wildfires

With Dryad, they came up with a "novel" idea that "nobody has done before." freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({placementName:"the-express_fs-in-line-secondary-slot",slotId:"the-express_fs-in-line-secondary-slot"}) "This device, it's an electronic nose," Brinkschulte said, pointing to the Silvanet Wildfire Sensor, a small, solar-powered device that is used for ultra-early detection of wildfires within minutes of inception to minimize impact and damage.He drew parallels between the device and a f...

11/20/2024

Extreme weather is punishing delivery drivers in Vietnam | Context

This series is a collaboration with Rest of World.
Northern Vietnam has just been hit by super typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm in decades. That followed the longest heat wave in 30 years in Ho Chi Minh City. 
Temperatures in the city consistently exceeded 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), reaching a high of 39 degrees Celsius. 
People retreated to their homes and air-conditioned offices. But gig workers for platforms like Grab, Be and ShopeeFood had no choice but to power on, deliver...

11/20/2024

A Cat's Life

Snippets that show a day in the life of my cat, Mountain Dew :)

Daily Express US • 11/16/2024

Expert warns on Trump's chilling climate impact - 'like giving gun to a child'

While this will reduce prices and increase consumption, emissions will also go up.In an interview with Daily Express US, Benjamin Leffel, assistant professor of public policy and leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, sounded the alarm for the impact Project 2025 policies might have in real life.Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a policy blueprint that lays out plans for Trump’s second term to “break up” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, privatize the National...