GET THE APP
Friday, February 13, 2026

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

1 hour ago
Immigration
News

Walz to Give $10 MILLION to Businesses That Profited From Illegal Labor, Customers Following ICE Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) announced a $10 million relief fund for businesses supposedly impacted by federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, following ICE operations that detained over 4,000 illegal migrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Tim Walz, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, immigrant business owners, and ICE officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Minneapolis, Minnesota, with recent federal immigration enforcement actions reported in late 2023 and early 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They left us with economic ruin.” – Tim Walz

🎯IMPACT: The policy highlights the overreliance of some businesses on exploiting cheap migrant labor, and the Democrats’ support for such employers.

IN FULL

Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a $10 million state relief package for Minnesota businesses that, he claims, have been hurt by recent federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The funding, drawn from state taxpayer dollars, is intended to support companies reporting labor shortages and declining customer traffic following stepped-up activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies.

The announcement follows remarks by White House Border Czar Tom Homan, who said ICE operations in the city led to the arrest of more than 4,000 illegal migrants. Walz sharply criticized the federal government’s approach, saying, “They left us with economic ruin.”

The governor said the relief effort will prioritize small businesses, particularly those owned by immigrants. “What can we start doing on the economic recovery, the damage that has been done to our economy, specifically to small business owners, and even more specifically, to immigrant small business owners?” Walz said.

State economic development manager Matt Varilek described the economic impact as significant, citing “massive reductions in foot traffic” and revenue declines in several neighborhoods.

Walz’s announcement comes amid broader political scrutiny. Recent reports have highlighted his support for increasing Somali immigration to Minnesota as the state faces ongoing investigations into alleged fraud connected to the Somali community. Notably, the Trump administration recently halted loans to approximately 7,000 Minnesota borrowers over fraud concerns.

Walz announced he would not seek reelection amid controversy tied to the Somali fraud scandal.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
More From The Pulse

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

17 minutes ago
William Upton
Immigration

Hundreds of Migrants Deported to Third Countries: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Senate Foreign Relations Committee report revealed that the Trump administration has deported hundreds of migrants who could not be sent directly to their homelands to third countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the State Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and foreign governments, including Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and El Salvador.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation covers deportation practices during the second Trump administration, with payments made to countries in Africa, Central America, and other regions.

🎯IMPACT: While Senate Democrats have played up the costs totals, it is fairly comparable to the cost of illegal immigrants in the Untied Staes for American taxpayers.

IN FULL

A newly released report from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reveals that the Trump administration spent over $32 million on deporting illegal immigrants to third countries, with some costs exceeding $1 million per migrant. The report highlights payments made to foreign governments, including Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and El Salvador, as part of third-country deportation agreements.

In one case, Rwanda received $7.5 million plus $601,864 in flight costs to accept seven migrants, equating to over $1.1 million per person. Similarly, Equatorial Guinea was paid $7.5 million to accept 29 migrants, costing taxpayers $282,126 per person. Additional payments were made to Palau, Eswatini (Swaziland), and El Salvador.

Despite the apparently high costs, the third-country deportations demonstrate to migrants who frustrate efforts to send them home that they can still be removed from the U.S., to a country not of their choosing. Notably, the investigation found that over 80 percent of illegal immigrants sent to third countries eventually returned to their home nations, suggesting that those claiming they would be in danger in their home nations were being dishonest.

While Congressional Democrats, who largely prepared the report, intended for the data to give the perception of government waste by utilizing third country deportations—or really deportations at all—the cost is comparable to the estimated cost of the illegal immigrants remaining in the United States. Research presented to Congress in 2024 by Steven A. Camarota, the Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), found that the U.S. illegal immigrant population receives around $42 billion in welfare benefits.

Additionally, CIS found that, “Based on average costs per student, the estimated 4 million children of illegal immigrants in public schools created $68.1 billion in costs in 2019.” Meanwhile, illegal immigrants account for about $7 billion in emergency services costs annually.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

2 hours ago
Politics

Trump Fires New U.S. Attorney Appointed by Courts, Not Admin, on Day One.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s administration fired Donald T. Kinsella, a U.S. attorney, on the same day he was sworn into the role.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald T. Kinsella, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Morgan DeWitt Snow, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The firing occurred on Wednesday in the Northern District of New York.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Judges don’t pick U.S. Attorneys, [the President] does. See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella,” – Todd Blanche.

🎯IMPACT: The firing underscores the constitutional authority of the President to appoint U.S. attorneys and raises questions about judicial appointments to such roles.

IN FULL

Donald T. Kinsella, who was appointed by a panel of judges to serve as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, was fired by the Trump administration on the same day he was sworn into the role. The court says it had exercised its authority under 28 U.S.C. § 546(d) to appoint Kinsella to fill the vacancy.

Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the firing in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Judges don’t pick U.S. Attorneys, [the President] does. See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella.”

In a statement issued Thursday, the court acknowledged Kinsella’s appointment and subsequent removal. “By the end of the day, Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel, Morgan DeWitt Snow, notified Mr. Kinsella that he was removed as the judicially-appointed United States Attorney, without explanation,” the statement read.

Kinsella had been selected to succeed John Sarcone III, who U.S. District Court Judge Lorna Schofield—an Obama appointee—determined to have been serving unlawfully in the role of acting U.S. attorney past the legal 120-day limit. Sarcone had demoted himself to first assistant attorney while awaiting an appeal.

Notably, Judge Schofield’s ruling came amid her attempt to block the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) probe into allegations of mortgage fraud against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Meanwhile, The National Pulse previously reported last June that Sarcone was attacked by Saul Morales-Garcia, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador with a lengthy criminal record, in Albany. Subsequently, Morales-Garcia was charged with attempted murder.

Notably, at question is the authority granted to the President for appointing U.S. attorneys, as outlined in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

3 hours ago
Economy

Trump Economy: Inflation Report Beats Expectations, Falls to Just 2.4%.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose just 2.4 percent in January compared to the same month last year, marking the slowest pace of inflation since May 2025.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. consumers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 2026, with data released Friday, February 13, 2026, following a delayed report due to a recent government shutdown.

🎯IMPACT: Easing inflation may provide some relief to consumers, though many still feel burdened by rising costs of living.

IN FULL

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by just 2.4 percent in January compared to the previous year, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. This marks the slowest annual inflation rate since May 2025 and is a decrease from December’s 2.7 percent pace.

Economists polled by FactSet had forecast a 2.5 percent rise in January’s CPI. While food and shelter costs climbed at a faster rate, a 1.5 percent decline in energy prices helped offset the overall inflation rate.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 2.5 percent over the past 12 months. The CPI measures changes in the cost of a basket of goods and services commonly purchased by consumers, such as food and clothing.

The delayed release of January’s inflation report was due to the recent partial government shutdown.

While inflation continues to ease, the news could throw cold water on hopes that the Federal Reserve will begin a new interest rate-cutting cycle this year after the central bank decided to pause rate cuts in January. Incoming Fed chairman Kevin Warsh is likely to initiate another rate cut or two, but whether the central bank pushes much lower remains to be seen.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

15 hours ago
Immigration
News

Illegal Immigrant Rams Law Enforcement, ICE Shoots Out His Tires.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Honduran illegal alien rammed a law enforcement vehicle during an arrest attempt, prompting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent to shoot out the suspect’s tires.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, suspect and illegal immigrant Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas, and local New Jersey law enforcement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2026, in Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In an attempt to evade arrest, Lopez-Banegas rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over.” – Department of Homeland Security spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the increasing violence ICE agents face, with DHS reporting a 3,200 percent rise in vehicle attacks on officers.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that a Honduran national unlawfully present in the United States, Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas, rammed a law enforcement vehicle while agents attempted to arrest him on Tuesday in Roxbury Township, New Jersey. An ICE officer fired his weapon during the encounter, shooting out the suspect’s tires to stop the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Video from the scene shows a roadside confrontation in which Lopez-Banegas’ pickup truck collided with a law enforcement vehicle. An agent is seen drawing his firearm as the vehicles made contact. The suspect later exited the truck with his hands raised after being ordered to comply.

“In an attempt to evade arrest, Lopez-Banegas rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman said, adding, “Following his training, the officer defensively used his firearm and shot out the tires of the vehicle to stop the threat. Thankfully, no one was injured. Officers arrested Banegas and took him into ICE custody.”

Federal officials said Lopez-Banegas has prior charges, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and driving under the influence. DHS also stated that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him in 2021.

Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport confirmed that her office is reviewing the incident. “We are actively investigating an incident involving ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) in which a firearm was discharged in Roxbury Township earlier today. There are no known injuries,” she said.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability are assisting in the investigation. DHS officials said assaults against immigration officers have increased in recent years, including a reported rise in vehicle-related attacks during arrest operations.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

17 hours ago
Crime
News

National Guard Withdraws from Several Dem-Run Crime Hubs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: National Guard troops have left Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, ending their deployments in the Democrat-run cities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, National Guard troops, U.S. military officials, and Democratic city leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early 2026; Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland.

🎯IMPACT: The deployments tested presidential authority and highlighted tensions between federal and state powers over crime and immigration.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has ended the federal deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, according to U.S. military officials, ending months of contentious operations in several Democrat-led cities. The drawdown followed a Pentagon plan initiated late last year, with demobilization taking place throughout January under the direction of U.S. Northern Command. The withdrawal closes a chapter marked by legal disputes and political clashes over President Donald J. Trump’s authority to federalize state National Guard units without a governor’s consent.

In Chicago and Portland, court challenges disrupted troops’ efforts to carry out street-level operations. The Supreme Court blocked the deployment in Chicago, while litigation in Oregon delayed or restricted Guard activity in Portland. An appeals court had earlier ruled that President Donald J. Trump could send National Guard forces into Portland under federal authority, but ongoing court proceedings complicated implementation. In Los Angeles, a federal court halted Trump’s order to deploy the Guard, limiting the overall troop presence there despite the administration’s efforts.

President Trump ordered the federalization of National Guard units in response to protests tied to immigration enforcement actions. The move represented a break from modern precedent, as federalization traditionally occurs at a governor’s request. Critics argued the deployments infringed on state authority, while supporters said the action was necessary to restore order and support local law enforcement.

Although operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland have ended, National Guard forces remain active in other areas. In Washington, D.C., where the President has direct authority over the Guard, troops continue to assist with public safety efforts. During the deployment, the D.C. public transit system reported its lowest crime rate in 25 years, a development officials linked in part to the Guard’s presence.

National Guard missions are also ongoing in cities such as New Orleans and Memphis, where Republican governors supported federal involvement.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

17 hours ago
The National Pulse
News

Humiliation for Top TV Exec as Support from Trump & Congress Crumbles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Congressional members are distancing themselves from a letter supporting Newsmax owner Chris Ruddy’s plan to protect his media empire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chris Ruddy, President Trump, and various Congressional members.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The original letter was published in December; recent distancing occurred following Trump’s Truth Social post last week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I can’t imagine anyone would want to stay on [as a signatory].” – Congressional member.

🎯IMPACT: Members are requesting their names be removed from the letter, and Ruddy’s stance is unpopular with the public.

IN FULL

Top television executive and Newsmax owner Chris Ruddy suffered fresh humiliation this week as it transpired that Congressional members who had originally signed a December letter backing a plan to protect his Newsmax empire were now distancing themselves from the position.

“I can’t imagine anyone would want to stay on [as a signatory],” one Congress member told The National Pulse, after President Trump directly rejected Ruddy’s entreaties in a Truth Social post from last week.

Newsmax had published a draft of the letter in December, claiming that 40 Republicans backed Ruddy’s plan to keep stifling government regulations on TV broadcasters, in his attempt to avoid competition in the marketplace.

“We need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks,” Trump wrote last week, concluding “GET THAT DEAL DONE!” in reference to the Nexstar-Tegna merger, which Ruddy has publicly opposed and personally lobbied the President and Congressional members over.

“The letter is from December, during which time Ruddy visited dozens of Members asking for a signature,” a Congressional source told The National Pulse, adding that Members were now requesting their names be removed. But Ruddy’s Newsmax has not altered or updated its story, nor has it amended the letter to reflect these changes.

Recent data from Trump’s pollster shows Ruddy’s position, explained in detail here, is fundamentally unpopular with the American public, who value competition and options.

 

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

18 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Soccer Coach Faces Death Penalty for Child Rape and Murder.

±PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New charges have been filed against an illegal immigrant soccer coach in Southern California who is accused of raping and murdering a 13-year-old player, with the suspect now potentially facing the death penalty.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, and the victim, 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in March 2025, with additional charges filed in February 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “13-year-old Oscar ‘Omar’ Hernandez was an innocent child who was exploited and killed by this depraved illegal alien who should have never been in this country.” – Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

🎯IMPACT: Garcia-Aquino faces new charges, heightening the severity of his legal situation, while awaiting a hearing to determine if the case will go to trial.

IN FULL

Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, a 44-year-old illegal alien youth soccer coach in Southern California, is facing additional criminal charges and could be eligible for the death penalty in connection with the murder of 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez, prosecutors said. The National Pulse reported last June that Garcia-Aquino was previously charged with murder with special circumstances in the March 2025 killing of Hernandez.

Prosecutors allege the boy left his Sun Valley, California, residence to meet Garcia-Aquino, who ran a youth soccer club where Hernandez played. Later, Hernandez’s body was found along a roadside near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard, days after he was reported missing from his home.

“13-year-old Oscar ‘Omar’ Hernandez was an innocent child who was exploited and killed by this depraved illegal alien who should have never been in this country,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said at the time of Garcia-Aquino’s arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

This week, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed nine additional sex-related felony counts against Garcia-Aquino, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, involving a separate alleged victim. The new charges include eight counts of sodomy of a person under 16 and one count of oral copulation of a person under 16, stemming from alleged incidents between 2022 and 2023, according to court records.

Authorities allege Garcia-Aquino sexually assaulted and killed Hernandez before discarding his body. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in custody without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2026, at which a judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. In addition to the murder and new sex-related charges, Garcia-Aquino faces other unrelated felony allegations from 2022 and 2024 involving separate alleged victims.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

18 hours ago
Crime
News

CONFIRMED: School Shooting ‘Gunperson’ Was Transgender.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An 18-year-old, Jesse Van Rootselaar, carried out a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, killing six people and injuring 25 others before taking his own life. The decision by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to identify Van Rootselaar as “female,” despite being a biological male, has drawn public backlash.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jesse Van Rootselaar, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and victims, including students and staff at the school.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We identified the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and social media.” — Dwayne McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of British Columbia RCMP

🎯IMPACT: The tragedy has sparked outrage, with criticism directed at the RCMP’s focus on the shooter’s pronouns over the victims.

IN FULL

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has faced criticism over its choice of language when describing Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old male responsible for the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Canadian law enforcement initially described the shooter as “female,” but later as a “gunperson,” raising suspicions—now confirmed—that he was actually a male transgender.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald defended the decision to claim that the suspect was “female,” arguing, “We identified the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and social media.” The male suspect self-identified as female about six years ago.

On February 10, Van Rootselaar killed his mother, Jennifer, 39, and 11-year-old stepbrother, Emmett, at their family home before heading to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, the suspect opened fire, killing a teacher and five students, three girls and two boys, aged 12 to 17, before dying by suicide. At least 27 others were injured, including 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who was left in critical condition.

Van Rootselaar, a former Tumbler Ridge student who dropped out about four years ago, had a history of mental health issues and prior police interactions, including apprehensions for assessment. Family firearms seized under mental health provisions had been returned.

The shooting has drawn comparisons to law enforcement’s handling of other recent transgender shootings. These include Audrey Hale, a biologically female transgender who killed six at The Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, in March 2023. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents from late 2025 revealed Hale’s writings expressing hatred toward white people and religion, describing the target as a “predominantly white school (white pple I hate)” and a “Christian school (hate religion).”

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

19 hours ago
World

Russia Plans Oil Shipments to Cuba, Defying Trump Blockade.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russia is preparing to send urgently needed oil to Cuba under what officials are describing as a “humanitarian” arrangement.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russian officials, the Cuban government, U.S. policymakers, and stranded tourists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Russian government made the announcement on February 12, 2026, amid U.S. sanctions and limited oil imports to Cuba.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The stranglehold imposed by the United States is already causing a lot of difficulties for Cuba,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

🎯IMPACT: Cuba’s energy crisis has led to power outages, halted flights, and stranded thousands of Russian and other foreign tourists as airlines are unable to refuel.

IN FULL

Russia has indicated it will defy U.S. sanctions and other restrictions enacted by U.S. President Donald J. Trump against the exportation of oil to Cuba. In what the Kremlin is describing as a “humanitarian” arrangement, the Russian Embassy in Havana states that “as far as we know, Russia is expected to supply oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid in the near future.”

The decision by the Russian government comes as Cuba faces its worst energy crisis in at least a decade. Following the ouster of Venezuela’s Marxist dictator, Nicolás Maduro, by the U.S. military earlier this year, Cuba lost a key supplier of oil and fuel, turning what was already a dire situation facing the Caribbean island’s communist government into an unprecedented crisis.

Mexico, another key supplier of oil for Cuba, has also halted shipments under pressure from the Trump administration. The National Pulse reported earlier this week that Cuban officials have warned airlines that the island’s airports may no longer be able to fuel aircraft due to the oil shortage.

Meanwhile, the communist regime has been forced to enact severe fuel rationing, with many Cubans comparing current conditions to the “Special Period” of the 1990s, when the collapse of Soviet support triggered widespread shortages. Notably, the fuel shortage is affecting daily life across the island. Public transportation has been reduced, fuel sales are restricted and often priced in U.S. dollars, and major cultural events such as the Havana International Book Fair have been canceled. In a televised address, President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned citizens that additional austerity measures could be introduced as the crisis worsens.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the situation, stating, “The stranglehold imposed by the United States is already causing a lot of difficulties for Cuba.” He added that Russia and Cuba are discussing ways to mitigate the crisis and provide assistance to the island nation.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

20 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
UK

Muslim Mayor Guilty of Trying to Help Son Cover Up Child Rape.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Labour Party mayor obstructed a police raid to help her son hide a phone linked to the rape of a 15-year-old girl.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Naheed Ejaz, former Mayor of Bracknell, and her son, Diwan Khan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on September 12, 2024, at their home in Bracknell, Berkshire, with Ejaz convicted of perverting the course of justice in February 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A conspiracy of silence not to give the police the phone.” – Prosecutor Ed Wylde.

🎯IMPACT: Both Ejaz and Khan were found guilty of perverting the course of justice, with Khan also convicted of rape.

IN FULL

A Muslim former British Labour Party mayor has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice after helping her son conceal evidence related to his rape of a 15-year-old girl. Naheed Ejaz, 61, who served as mayor from 2023 to 2024, delayed police entry to her home for over 90 seconds on September 12, 2024, allowing her son, Diwan Khan, 41, to hide his mobile phone. The device reportedly contained video footage of the assault.

Khan was convicted at Winchester Crown Court of raping the teenager, which took place in June 2024. Prosecutors said he gave her vodka laced with the illicit drug, MDMA, causing her to black out. She awoke unclothed in the back of his car with no memory of the incident. Khan filmed the attack and later threatened to show the video to her mother and to “slit her throat” if she reported him.

During the police visit, Ejaz and Khan spoke in Urdu to avoid detection, and did not use the word “phone” as it is the same in both languages. Prosecutor Ed Wylde labelled the incident “A conspiracy of silence not to give the police the phone.”

Ejaz claimed the delay was only to wake her son so he could speak to officers. The court rejected this, ruling her actions were intentional obstruction.

Khan, who acted as his mother’s Mayor’s Consort during her term, admitted perverting the course of justice by hiding the phone but denied rape. He was convicted on the rape charge as well. Both Ejaz and Khan await sentencing following the trial.

The case comes amid broader concerns about child rape and child sexual exploitation in Britain involving Muslim asylum seekers and grooming gangs. Recent reviews have exposed police failures in handling grooming gang cases, including a National Crime Agency operation that led to reopening over 1,000 historic investigations due to overlooked evidence and improper closures.

Reports have noted disproportionate involvement of perpetrators from Pakistani backgrounds in some organized exploitation networks, alongside institutional reluctance to act over fears of racism accusations. In 2025, the police watchdog admitted senior officers failed to protect victims in Rotherham, while a government advisory panel for grooming gang inquiries was disbanded in early 2026, prompting criticism from survivors.

Image by Carlosgg1961.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad