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Barbados poet laureate on mission to share stories of enslavement
Esther Phillips says her poetry’s ‘ultimate goal’ is to achieve justice for those who suffered at hands of European colonisersEsther Phillips, the Barbados poet laureate, grew up next to Drax Hall Estate, once one of the Caribbean’s notoriously violent slave plantations, where tens of thousands of Africans are said to have died in terrible conditions during the transatlantic slave trade. But she was well into her career when the harsh realities of slavery hit home.The poet began writing at a young age, and was inspired at first by the “trees, flowers, birds, the smells of the plants or shrubs, the air, the cane fields” she encountered as she walked to school. Continue reading...
Trump's new statement shows he's 'unsure of results' of Iran bombing effort: NYT
Donald Trump on Sunday raised the possibility that his signature Iranian bombing effort may have failed, according to a New York Times reporter this weekend.Trump took to Truth Social after bombing Iran and contradicted Vice President JD Vance by suggesting the potential for "regime change" in Iran."It’s not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???" Trump asked on his Truth Social platform. He then added, "MIGA!!!"That statement itself shows Trump isn't sure if his big plan worked, according to NYT investigative reporter Eric Lipton."Trump himself seems unsure of results as he is now suggesting regime change may be necessary...ie nuclear threat may still exist with current leadership," Lipton wrote on his social media. Lipton noted that the comment was right above a MyPillow advertisement.Conservative attorney and Trump critic George Conway responded to that on X, writing, "I would have more confidence in Trump if he weren’t such a complete moron and clown."Democratic strategist Maine had a similar take on Trump's statement."So, the air strikes didn’t destroy anything. And regime change is indeed the goal."
Trump contradicts JD Vance by pushing for 'regime change' in Iran
Donald Trump on Sunday contradicted U.S. Vice President JD Vance by suggesting the potential for "regime change" in Iran.Trump over the weekend brought up the issue following a bombing of three nuclear sites in the Middle Eastern nation."It’s not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???" Trump asked on his Truth Social platform. He then added, "MIGA!!!"The comments come "just hours after Vance goes on the Sunday shows saying that the U.S. isn't interested in a regime change," according to veteran reporter Jake Sherman.
Trump's former 'trusted operative' spills Iran story 'they're not telling you'
A man who was once Donald Trump's "trusted operative" spilled details he said you won't find on CNN or MSNBC.Author and former Trump insider Lev Parnas, who has reported on Trump's purported "humiliation" by Russia's Putin, on Sunday wrote about his take on Trump's military strike on Iran's soil.Parnas, who previously predicted Trump would indeed strike Iran, said over the weekend that media pundits are asking all the wrong questions.In an article entitled While the Media Chases Trump’s Distractions, Here’s the Story They’re Not Telling You, Parnas discloses that he hasn't slept in two days."I’ve been on the phone nonstop, speaking to sources across the globe, gathering real-time intelligence—not recycled headlines, not speculation—real insight into what’s actually happening behind the scenes," he said, noting that "what the media isn’t reporting is even worse" than what journalists are currently disseminating."While CNN and MSNBC talk in circles about whether Trump has triggered a constitutional crisis by bypassing Congress—or fixate on whether this attack on Iran will spiral into retaliation—they’re playing right into his plan. They’re not asking the real question: Why now?" he asked. "They’re not talking about how this was always about oil, power, and control. About how this strike—this so-called 'surgical obliteration' of Iran’s nuclear facilities—wasn’t some last-minute military move, but a long-orchestrated step in a deal coordinated directly with Vladimir Putin."According to Parnas, Trump has been wanting to strike Iran, but has been waiting on the OK from a certain foreign leader."Trump wanted to hit Iran. The only thing holding him back? Putin’s greenlight. That greenlight’s now been given—and look what’s already unfolding," Parnas wrote, adding that Trump's recent antics are merely distractions from all this.He added, "Most of the pundits you see on TV have never even been in the same room as Donald Trump. They don’t know him. They don’t know how he talks, how he schemes, how he deals. But I do. I was there. I was his trusted operative, the one he sent to Ukraine to pressure Zelensky to dig up dirt on the Bidens.""I know how he thinks. I know how he weaponizes chaos. And I know what he’s planning next," he then added. "That’s why I’m telling you now: What you’re seeing on the news? That’s the distraction. What I’m telling you here? That’s the real threat."Read the full post here.
'Read the Constitution': Lindsey Graham shot down by Dem over bombing praise
Lindsey Graham was on the receiving end of a smack-down from one of his Senate colleagues on Sunday after going on "Meet the Press" and declaring Donald Trump had every right to launch an unprovoked attack on Iran on Saturday.During an appearance on MSNBC, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) bluntly claimed the Republican from South Carolina needs a refresher course on the Constitution.During his Sunday appearance, an upbeat Graham claimed Trump "was within his Article II authority” to begin bombing that cold lead to a war.He added, "Congress can declare war or cut off funding,” Graham continued. “We can’t be the commander in chief. You can’t have 535 commander-in-chiefs. If you don’t like what the president does, in terms of war, you can cut off the funding. But declaring war is left of the Congress. We’ve declared war five times in the history of America. All of these other military operations were lawful.”Asked to comment after watching the cli, Merkley suggested, "I'd encourage him to actually read the Constitution.""Our founders were so concerned about the impact of war that they said, this is not a decision that can be left to a single individual," he lectured. "And that's why the Constitution vests that authority with Congress. The president absolutely failed to follow the Constitution and now we're in war without congressional authorization ––we should debate a war powers resolution."You can watch below or at the link. - YouTube youtu.be
'MAGA doesn’t want him': Trump declares war on GOP lawmaker over Iran criticism
On Sunday, Donald Trump had a massive meltdown on a far-right conservative member of the House who is refusing to fall in line and approve of the surprise bombing of Iran.Sunday morning Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) appeared on "Face the Nation," and ripped into his own party by stating, "AIPAC is very persuasive. For instance, the Israeli lobby in Congress, if you look at my colleagues' feeds now, they all look the same. They're all tweeting the same message that we've got to support Israel and we've got to do this." That apparently, did not sit well with Trump who launched such a scathing and vicious attack on a GOP lawmaker he once endorsed that he repeated himself while excommunicating Massie from the MAGA movement."Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is. Actually, MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him. He is a negative force who almost always Votes 'NO,' no matter how good something may be. He’s a simple minded 'grandstander' who thinks it’s good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling 'DEATH TO AMERICA' at every chance they get. Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans, and even took over the American Embassy in Tehran under the Carter Administration. We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the 'bomb' right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this 'lightweight' Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran."Trump was not done and repeated, "Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes 'NO' on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.), no matter how good something may be. He is disrespectful to our great military, and all that they stand for, not even acknowledging their brilliance and bravery in yesterday’s attack, which was a total and complete WIN. Massie should drop his fake act and start putting America First, but he doesn’t know how to get there — he doesn’t have a clue! He’ll undoubtedly vote against the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, even though non-passage means a 68% Tax Increase for everybody, and many things far worse than that.""MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!" he ranted before noting, "The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I’ll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard. MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one. Thank you to our incredible military for the AMAZING job they did last night. It was really SPECIAL!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."You can see Trump's Truth Social post here.
Hegseth 'is going to feel pressure' to keep Trump from looking bad: insider
Despite triumphant proclamations from Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the surprise attack on Iran was a rousing success, there are concerns within the White House that blow-back is coming.According to a report from Politico, not everyone in the administration was on board with the bombing of three sites in Iran linked to uranium enrichment.Add to that, Trump made some broad statements about the damage done and now it falls to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to make it look like the president came out on top.As Politico's Dasha Burns, Nahal Toosi and Jack Detsch reported on Sunday, "President Donald Trump was triumphant Saturday night during his Oval Office address but within the administration the mood was less sanguine as officials braced for a potential Iran counterattack."According to one insider, “We don’t know how much this is going to get us into something protracted. Right now the message is we want to get rid of the nuclear capacity and focus on negotiations.”Another person who took part in the White House debate offered that there are legitimate fears of a retaliatory "mass casualty event," and confessed, "There’s a lot of risks here for escalation,” before adding, "there’s going to be more pressure on the United States to get involved.”As for Hegseth, the ball is now in his courtAccording to Politico, "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'is going to feel pressure and somehow prove that the strikes are as successful as Trump claimed they are,”'the person added, saying that the Pentagon assessed this year that the U.S. military would need to do 30 days of sustained strikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, owing to their underground depth and spread out layout."You can read more here.
'Grounds for impeachment': NBC host confronts JD Vance on Iran strike
NBC host Kristen Welker told Vice President J.D. Vance that lawmakers were reacting to President Donald Trump's Iran strike by calling for his impeachment."Many Republicans supportive, but Congressman Thomas Massie saying this was unconstitutional," Welker said on Sunday. "Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying it's grounds for impeachment, saying the president should have gotten congressional approval first.""What do you say to members of Congress who say it was unconstitutional for the president to act unilaterally?" she asked."First of all, the President has clear authority to act to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the worst weapon of mass destruction of them all is nuclear," Vance replied. "The idea that this was outside of presidential authority, I think any real serious legal person would tell you that's not true.""And the second thing is, Kristen, I certainly empathize with Americans who are exhausted after 25 years of foreign entanglements in the Middle East," he continued. "I understand the concern, but the difference is that back then we had dumb presidents, and now we have a president who actually knows how to accomplish America's national security objectives."Watch the video below from NBC News or at the link.
'Quite significant': Pentagon description of Iran bombing site raises questions
Immediately following a Sunday morning Pentagon press conference regarding the Saturday bombing attack on Iran ordered by Donald Trump, longtime New York Times Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper noted the wording used for one site by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.Sitting on a panel on MSNBC's "The Weekend," Cooper was asked for her takeaways from comments made by Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.Despite Donald Trump's claim after the attack that, "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," Caine seemed to disagree.Ac Cooper noted, "Some of my independent reporting now –– this is not coming from either Hegseth or Caine obviously –– but it's not, there's some indications now that people are not so sure that this site has been completely destroyed, that it was severely damaged."She then added, "And Caine did say 'severely damaged,' but he did not use the word 'destroy,' and I think that's quite significant."You can watch below or at the link - YouTube youtu.be
Brazil hot-air balloon crash kills at least eight people amid ‘desperate’ scenes
Witnesses say some of those onboard hurled themselves out to escape flames as reports say fire started from torch in balloon’s basketAt least eight people have died after a hot-air balloon carrying more than 20 people caught fire and plunged through the sky in Brazil’s deep south.Footage posted on social media showed the moment the multi-coloured aircraft fell to earth, engulfed in flames, in the state of Santa Catarina on Saturday morning. At least two of the balloon’s occupants can be seen plummeting to the ground as the fire spreads. “My God!” one witness can be heard gasping as the basket hurtles towards the ground. Continue reading...
Pakistan to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel peace prize
Islamabad says US president helped resolve India conflict but critic says ‘Israel’s sugar daddy in Gaza’ not candidate for any prizePakistan has said it will recommend Donald Trump for the Nobel peace prize for his work in helping to resolve the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.The move, announced on Saturday, came as the US president mulls joining Israel in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. Continue reading...
Nigerian communities to take Shell to high court over oil pollution
Residents of Bille and Ogale in Niger delta are suing Shell and subsidiary, but company denies liabilityResidents of two Nigerian communities who are taking legal action against Shell over oil pollution are set to take their cases to trial at the high court in 2027.Members of the Bille and Ogale communities in the Niger delta, which have a combined population of about 50,000, are suing Shell and a Nigerian-based subsidiary of the company, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, which is now the Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Continue reading...
