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US Science Labs Face Escalating Espionage Threat, Raising National Security Concerns
Not to worry, the new cabinet heads with NO actual experience or qualifications will learn on the job how to make things safe again. And their hair will look magnificent during television interviews while the stores are being robbed. -
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UK Inflation Surges to 10-Month High Amid Rising Costs & Private School Fees VAT
So many Chicken Littles must feel put out. -
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US Science Labs Face Escalating Espionage Threat, Raising National Security Concerns
American government laboratories are increasingly at risk of foreign espionage, with former Department of Energy (DOE) officials and national security experts warning lawmakers about a growing threat. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, experts highlighted concerns over scientific research being exploited by foreign adversaries, particularly China, to advance military capabilities and technological development. Paul Dabbar, who served as the DOE undersecretary for science under President Trump, testified that researchers operating on behalf of the Chinese government have been stealing intellectual property from US labs. These stolen innovations include key advancements in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and semiconductors. “China puts tremendous pressure in appropriating this innovation and then manufacturing it,” Dabbar stated, emphasizing the scale of theft occurring at the 17 national laboratories overseen by the DOE. Anna Puglisi, a fellow at the Hoover Institution and a former national counterintelligence officer for East Asia, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “It’s a lot of the technologies of the future — it’s AI, it’s biotech.” She also reflected on her decades of experience, noting, “In these 50 years, I have seen dramatic changes in how we interact with countries of concern like China.” Geraldine Richmond, who succeeded Dabbar as undersecretary for science, echoed these concerns, describing the evolving threat landscape. “I have seen them change, I have seen the threats become even stronger, and they are as much a concern to me as they were when I was undersecretary,” she said. Serving on the National Science Board under both Presidents Trump and Biden, Richmond has witnessed firsthand the mounting risks to US leadership in science and technology. One of the most alarming revelations from the hearing involved collaboration between US and Chinese researchers on nuclear weapons work. This comes despite past federal investigations uncovering China’s recruitment strategies, such as the Thousand Talents Program, which sought to repatriate scientific knowledge and innovations from American institutions. Dabbar called these joint nuclear efforts “astounding,” while lawmakers questioned how such collaboration could have been allowed. Further investigations have exposed ties between US and Chinese universities with connections to the People’s Liberation Army, raising concerns over compromised national security. Committee Chairman Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) condemned Beijing’s actions, stating, “Make no mistake. Beijing is actively exploiting weak security protocols, academic collaboration loopholes, and US grant programs to advance its military capabilities — all on American taxpayers’ dime.” Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of both the energy and intelligence committees, referenced bipartisan legislation that aimed to restrict researchers from China, Russia, and Iran from accessing US laboratories. While the bill passed the intelligence committee unanimously, it was never put to a full vote. Cotton vowed to reintroduce the measure, citing a pressing need for stronger restrictions. “There’s zero reciprocity on this issue,” he noted, referencing the lack of access US scientists have to Chinese research facilities. According to Cotton, approximately 8,000 Chinese and Russian scientists passed through DOE laboratories in the 2024 fiscal year, accounting for roughly 20% of all foreign visitors. Senator James Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his skepticism about China’s openness to American scientists. “I have never met a person who has set foot in a Chinese lab,” he remarked. Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-22 -
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Zelensky’s Actions That Provoked Trump: Tensions Rise Over Ukraine War Negotiations
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly frustrated Donald Trump so much during ongoing peace negotiations with Russia that the former U.S. president nearly withdrew American military support for Ukraine, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The friction between Trump and Zelensky escalated into a heated exchange that alarmed European allies, who fear the consequences of emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin. “President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelensky,” National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated during a White House press briefing. The relationship between the two leaders has been uneasy since Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, which stemmed from his efforts to condition U.S. military aid on Zelensky’s willingness to investigate Joe Biden’s son and his connections to a Ukrainian gas company. Now, as Trump attempts to implement his promise of a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, he is finding it more difficult than expected. According to six administration officials, Zelensky made five key missteps over the past nine days that irritated Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Waltz. One official remarked that Zelensky “showed how not to do the ‘Art of the Deal’” when seeking Trump’s support. On February 12, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Zelensky in Kyiv to offer a proposal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral rights in exchange for de facto American protection. Trump later described Zelensky as “rude” for delaying the meeting because he had slept in. Two days later, at the Munich Security Conference, Vance and Rubio pressed Zelensky to approve the deal, only for him to respond that he lacked the authority to do so unilaterally without parliamentary approval. Then, on February 15, Zelensky publicly rejected the proposal at the conference, calling it “not in the interests of a sovereign Ukraine,” a stark contrast to his more optimistic remarks on social media the day before. The situation worsened on February 18 when Zelensky criticized peace talks held in Saudi Arabia between U.S. officials and Russian negotiators, saying Ukraine had been excluded. In response, an enraged Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he falsely claimed Zelensky had started the war with Russia and had an approval rating of only four percent. The conflict escalated further on February 19 when Zelensky retaliated, accusing Trump of living in a “disinformation space.” Trump then fired back on Truth Social, mocking Zelensky as a “modestly successful comedian” turned “dictator without elections,” a pointed remark given Trump’s refusal to label Putin a dictator. Vance later expressed his frustration with Zelensky’s actions. “He’s attacking the only reason [Ukraine] exists, publicly, right now. And it’s disgraceful. And it’s not something that is going to move the president of the United States. In fact, it’s going to have the opposite effect,” he told *The National Pulse.* Three administration sources suggested that Vance’s comments were a veiled threat that Trump could withdraw support from Ukraine altogether. From the White House’s perspective, Zelensky had grown too accustomed to the unconditional backing of former President Biden, NATO allies, and positive media coverage. “Zelensky is an actor who committed a common mistake of theater kids: He started to think he’s the character he plays on TV,” said one White House official involved in the negotiations. “Yes, he has been brave and stood up to Russia. But he would be six feet under if it wasn’t for the millions we spent, and he needs to exit stage right with all the drama.” Another official remarked, “We created a monster with Zelensky. And these Trump-deranged Europeans who won’t send troops are giving him terrible advice.” A third added, “In the course of a week, Zelensky rebuffed President Trump’s treasury secretary, his secretary of state, and his vice president, all before moving on to personally insulting President Trump in the press. What did Zelensky think was going to happen?” Despite the animosity, Trump’s team is still negotiating with Zelensky, and a revised mineral-rights deal remains on the table as part of a potential peace agreement. However, the deal itself could prove highly controversial. Based on public and private statements, Trump’s administration appears poised to pressure Zelensky into conceding Crimea, parts of eastern Ukraine, and the Azov Coast in exchange for an end to hostilities. Critics have likened the U.S. insistence on claiming a share of Ukraine’s mineral wealth to a “mafia shakedown,” arguing that Ukraine would be forced to surrender land and resources while gaining little in return. “It’s a sh*t sandwich,” admitted one Trump administration official. “But Ukraine is going to have to eat it because [Trump] has made clear this is no longer our problem.” Based on a report by AXIOS 2025-02-22 -
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George Clooney Criticizes Media for Failing to Cover Biden’s Declining Abilities
Actor George Clooney acknowledged in an interview Thursday that the media failed in its coverage of former President Joe Biden’s fitness to serve. Speaking with The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd, Clooney stated that Biden was irresponsible in concealing his "incapacities" and placed some of the blame on the press, saying, "the media, in many ways, dropped the ball." Reflecting on a moment in June when former President Barack Obama guided Biden offstage at a Los Angeles fundraiser, Clooney recalled seeing a noticeable decline. "I saw him for hours a year earlier at the Kennedy Center, and I saw someone much less sharp," he said. Dowd noted that the encounter left Clooney "gobsmacked." Despite his concerns, Clooney emphasized, "I’ve always liked Joe Biden, and I like him still." Clooney also addressed why former President Donald Trump won the election, attributing it in part to Biden’s messaging struggles. "The Biden administration was terrible at explaining that we’re a world economy, where we were actually doing better than all the other G7 countries. They were bad at telling the story because their messenger was not working at his best, to say the least," he said. Biden’s team has not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The longtime liberal actor has previously called for Biden to step aside, particularly after the president’s difficult debate performance against Trump. In a July guest essay for The New York Times, Clooney wrote, "It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate." Clooney specifically referenced the June 2024 fundraiser in Los Angeles and noted that his decision to speak out was independent. "People thought Obama was behind it, but Clooney said he did it despite being urged not to," Dowd explained. During the interview, Clooney also criticized Trump, expressing his concerns about the political landscape. "I believe that whole idea of the arc of history bending toward justice, and I know it doesn’t feel that way right now," he told Dowd. "I think there are always these pendulum swings. The first Trump election was, I believe, a result of eight years of a Black president." He continued with a sharp critique of Trump’s leadership, stating, "No rules count anymore. It’s like letting an infant walk across the 405 freeway in the middle of the afternoon." Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-22
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