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Wednesday, July 22, 2026

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2 hours ago
Economy
News

Oil Prices Surge to Six-Week High Amid Houthi Disruption of Saudi Shipments.

Iran-backed Houthi threats against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping routes, driving up oil prices and raising fears of further instability in the region.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: International and U.S. oil prices climbed more than four percent on Wednesday as renewed concerns over global energy supplies intensified after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels began enforcing a self-declared “maritime ban” on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, prompting several vessels to reverse course. The Houthis announced the blockade earlier this week in response to renewed Saudi military strikes in Yemen, threatening to prevent Saudi crude exports from transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Iranian attacks disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
📺 DETAIL: Maritime intelligence firms reported that at least seven ships carrying Saudi cargoes, including a tanker transporting two million barrels of crude to China, turned back following Houthi warnings, though other vessels have continued transiting the waterway without reported attacks. Analysts warned the disruption could significantly affect global oil markets, as Saudi exports through the Red Sea have become increasingly important due to instability in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose 4.12 percent to $94.76 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate increased 4.35 percent to $88.01 per barrel. Analysts at Goldman Sachs said Brent crude could reach $120 per barrel by the end of the year if shipping tensions continue, although some expect prices to fall below $80 if the conflict de-escalates. Saudi Arabia condemned the Houthi blockade and pledged to take all necessary measures to protect its commercial shipping, while the Houthis warned that any Saudi military response would be met with further escalation. Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran that any further attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz will result in U.S. military strikes against Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants.
🎯 IMPACT: The disruption in oil shipments has heightened concerns about global energy security and economic stability, with analysts warning that prolonged tensions could push oil prices above $100 per barrel. The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the blockade, vowing to protect its vessels, while the Houthis threatened a “decisive response” to any Saudi actions.
📈 DATA: Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea had grown from 1.6 million barrels per day to 4.7 million due to the Iran war, underscoring the importance of the route.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News
TECH

Federal Judge Greenlights Record $1.5 Billion Copyright Settlement Against Anthropic.

A landmark $1.5 billion settlement resolves allegations that AI company Anthropic illegally downloaded copyrighted books to train its models.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge has granted final approval to a $1.5 billion class-action settlement requiring AI company Anthropic to compensate authors and publishers whose copyrighted books were illegally downloaded from the pirate libraries LibGen and PiLiMi, marking what the U.S. District Court in San Francisco called the largest copyright class-action settlement in history.
📺 DETAIL: The lawsuit focused on Anthropic’s acquisition of the works rather than the legality of using copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence, with an earlier ruling finding that training its AI models is covered by fair use. Under the order signed by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, eligible rights holders can claim roughly $3,000 per book—about four times the typical minimum statutory copyright award—with more than 440,000 books already claimed, while Anthropic must also delete the pirated files from its systems. The settlement comes during a turbulent year for the AI company, which recently sued the Trump administration after being designated a federal “supply chain risk,” arguing the designation unlawfully threatened its government business following a dispute over military use of its AI technology. The company also drew attention after CEO Dario Amodei said researchers could not rule out the possibility that Anthropic’s Claude AI model might one day become conscious, comments that fueled debate over the ethical implications of increasingly advanced artificial intelligence systems.
🎯 IMPACT: The case sets a significant precedent for copyright protection in the era of artificial intelligence, signaling that companies cannot freely use pirated content for AI training without consequences. It also provides substantial financial restitution to authors and publishers whose works were exploited.

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A landmark $1.5 billion settlement resolves allegations that AI company Anthropic illegally downloaded copyrighted books to train its models.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Hot Mic Catches New UK PM’s Cabinet Laughing About Releasing Dangerous Prisoners Early.

Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, two Cabinet-level ministers in the Labour-controlled British government, were caught joking and laughing about early prison releases, prompting apologies on social media.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British government ministers Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have been criticized for joking about the early release of prisoners during a hot-mic moment.
📺 DETAIL: This week, Wes Streeting, the new Defense Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, equivalent to the U.S. Secretaries of War and Homeland Security, were caught joking about the Labor government’s decision to release many prisoners early. Talking about Alex Norris, the newly-appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary for Justice, Streeting is recoded saying: “You know he’s [Norris] the enemy now, Justice Shabana?” to which Mahmood responds, “No, he’s not.” Streeting then quips: “He wants to let them all out,” prompting laughter. The incident was recorded without Streeting’s or Mahmood’s knowledge. The two Cabinet ministers subsequently issued apologies on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), Mahmood posted: “I think everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Lord Chancellor – a role I once filled and which comes with immense challenges thanks to the vandalism inflicted on our justice system by the last Conservative Government… But I appreciate this is an extremely serious issue and do not want anyone to mistake this moment of levity for a lack of serious intent.” Streeting posted: “I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Justice Secretary – it was a reference to an old May/Clarke joke,” he said, referring to former Conservative Home Secretary (later Prime Minister) Theresa May saying of former Conservative Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, “I locked ’em up and he let ’em out.” 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It’s incredibly disappointing and very hurtful, particularly to those friends and families of people who will be due for early release.” – Sir Mel Stride, Shadow Chancellor.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident adds to the controversy surrounding the government’s decision to release prisoners early. Back in June, it was reported that the Labour government planned to release up to 6,000 serious offenders from prison, including murderers and rapists, to tackle overcrowding. Specifically, the government plans to allow more offenders to be released halfway through their sentences. Originally, more dangerous prisoners were eligible for early release only after serving two-thirds of their sentence. “Once the MoJ [Ministry of Justice] starts writing to victims and saying this is what is happening, there will inevitably be individual victims who have suffered at the hands of an offender who will become very upset,” said Tom Wheatley, President of the Prison Governors’ Association.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, two Cabinet-level ministers in the Labour-controlled British government, were caught joking and laughing about early prison releases, prompting apologies on social media.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
News
UK

UK Abandons Multi-Billion Digital ID Program.

The British government’s proposed Digital ID program, known as BritCard, has been officially canceled, with its $2.4 billion budget redirected to reduce VAT on electricity bills.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s proposed national digital identity program, known as BritCard, has been scrapped by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with ministers saying the move will help fund the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on domestic electricity bills beginning October 1. New Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasury Secretary) John Healey said canceling the Digital ID program, previously estimated to cost the equivalent of $2.4 billion over three years, would finance the tax cut, which will also apply to qualifying small businesses, charities, and care homes.
📺 DETAIL: The BritCard scheme was supposedly introduced as part of an effort to combat illegal immigration and initially included a mandatory right-to-work requirement, but that provision was dropped earlier this year following widespread opposition and a petition signed by nearly 2.9 million people. Civil liberties groups, including Big Brother Watch, had criticized the proposal as costly and unnecessary, while opponents argued it risked expanding government surveillance. Questions remain over whether canceling the program will fully fund the VAT cut, with reports citing differing assessments from the government, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and former ministers over whether the Digital ID budget had ever been fully allocated. The government has said updated costings will be provided at the next Budget as it prepares additional measures, including a 20 percent reduction in business rates for hospitality businesses and a £2 (~$2.70) bus fare cap. Financial markets initially reacted cautiously to the new administration’s spending plans, although government borrowing costs eased after Healey was appointed Chancellor. While the standalone BritCard program has been canceled, existing government digital identity services, including GOV.UK One Login, the GOV.UK Wallet, and age-verification systems under the Online Safety Act remain in place.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This is funded this year from cancelling the Digital ID programme,” said new Chancellor John Healey, explaining the financial rationale behind the VAT cut.
🎯 IMPACT: The cancellation halts the rollout of the controversial ID system, criticized for its high cost and potential to infringe on civil liberties, while potentially providing some financial relief to households and small businesses through the VAT cut.
📺 FLASHBACK: When the Digital ID program was announced, officials admitted its success depended on universal adoption. The program quickly expanded in scope, with proposals for “cradle-to-grave” tracking, sparking widespread public and political opposition.

Image by James Mitchell.

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The British government’s proposed Digital ID program, known as BritCard, has been officially canceled, with its $2.4 billion budget redirected to reduce VAT on electricity bills.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
News
World

Trump Seals Historic U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Agreement.

The agreement, which requires congressional approval, could expand Saudi Arabia’s nuclear capabilities, with some raising questions over nonproliferation safeguards.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has approved a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, according to a senior administration official, with the deal allowing U.S. companies to help develop the kingdom’s nuclear power program. Congress will have an opportunity to review the agreement, though blocking it would require a veto-proof majority.
📺 DETAIL: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not enter into any agreement that creates a risk of nuclear proliferation. The deal comes as the United States continues military operations against Iran, with the Trump administration maintaining that Tehran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Previous U.S. policy had linked Saudi nuclear cooperation to normalization of relations with Israel, but that condition was reportedly dropped as negotiations advanced. Analysts say the agreement’s impact will depend on whether it permits Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and whether it includes strict International Atomic Energy Agency oversight and other nonproliferation safeguards. Experts have warned that allowing domestic uranium enrichment without strong restrictions could increase regional proliferation risks, particularly given past comments by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the kingdom would seek a nuclear weapon if Iran obtained one. Saudi Arabia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors civilian nuclear programs, but the full terms of the agreement have not yet been released.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We would not reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
🎯 IMPACT: If approved, the deal could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure but also heighten regional tensions, particularly with Iran, which has been accused of pursuing nuclear weapons despite its denials.
📺 FLASHBACK: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if Iran were to develop them. In addition, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation, in September, raising further concerns about nuclear proliferation in the region.

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The agreement, which requires congressional approval, could expand Saudi Arabia's nuclear capabilities, with some raising questions over nonproliferation safeguards.

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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.
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6 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

UK PM Ditches Proposal to Cut Workers’ Taxes Soon After Taking Office.

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shelved a proposal to raise the tax-free personal allowance, citing financial challenges, despite having previously suggested the idea and growing voter concerns over the cost of living.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has U-turned on proposals to increase the tax-free personal allowance, roughly equivalent to the Standard Deduction in the U.S., after assuming office.
📺 DETAIL: Prime Minister Burnham announced there would be no change to the tax-free personal allowance. The tax-free personal allowance is currently £12,570 (~$16,800), meaning earnings up to this amount are not subject to income tax unless you earn over £100,000 (~$134,000), at which point it begins to gradually decrease until hitting zero at £125,140 (~$167,340). Significantly, the personal allowance has been frozen since 2021, resulting in its value being gradually eroded and more people paying taxes as inflation pushes up earnings. This process is known as fiscal drag. Burnham previously suggested that he would increase the personal allowance to help alleviate pressures created by the cost of living crisis, but later decided that altering the allowance would cost the government too much money. While Burnham’s allies now claim that changes in the personal allowance were not part of his immediate priorities, it was one of his most notable proposals during the Makerfield by-election (special election) which saw him returned to the House of Commons. Burnham resigned from his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester to run in the by-election and replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and, ultimately, Prime Minister.
🎯 IMPACT: The decision to maintain the frozen allowance could exacerbate financial pressures on families already struggling with inflation. The fact that the new Prime Minister has U-turned so soon in his tenure on what was one of his most eye-catching proposals raises questions about the left-wing government’s direction of travel on taxes.
📺 FLASHBACK: Burnham has come under increased scrutiny amid reports that he intends to pursue a higher-tax agenda. According to analysis by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, this could add the equivalent of around $51 billion in new taxes. “Andy Burnham has spent 20 years reaching for other people’s money—a death tax on family homes, a graduate tax on young people getting their first pay cheque, a £14 billion raid on savings and investment, and new levies on everything from your parking space at work to your weekend away,” said Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick. This is part of a broader warning from Farage that Burnham’s leadership will see a leftward shift that is likely to lead to tax hikes.

Image by Kirsty O’Connor / No 10 Downing Street.

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New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shelved a proposal to raise the tax-free personal allowance, citing financial challenges, despite having previously suggested the idea and growing voter concerns over the cost of living.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Health
News

Fifth Death Confirmed in NYC Legionnaires’ Outbreak.

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City has claimed its fifth life, with at least 72 people infected and health officials still investigating the source.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A fifth person has died in New York City‘s Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, which has sickened at least 72 people over the past month. Health officials continue investigating the source of the infection, and eight people remain hospitalized, while 56 have been discharged.
📺 DETAIL: The city’s health department has detected Legionella bacteria in 34 cooling towers across 33 buildings, all of which have since been cleaned, though investigators have not confirmed the outbreak’s origin. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria that spreads through contaminated water droplets from sources such as cooling towers and hot tubs, but it is not transmitted from person to person. Authorities have inspected and disinfected 82 cooling towers at 80 buildings in Manhattan’s Upper East Side after bacteria were found at locations including apartment buildings, schools, and museums. Some property owners, including the Guggenheim Museum, said they acted quickly to address the issue through routine testing and treatment. Texas attorney Jory Lange, who represents several patients affected by the current outbreak and more than 50 from last year’s Harlem outbreak, said stronger enforcement is needed. The Health Department has expanded its Legionella response team following last year’s outbreak and reported completing nearly 1,600 cooling tower inspections during the first half of the year, a 35 percent increase from the same period last year.
🎯 IMPACT: The outbreak has raised concerns over the effectiveness of existing public health measures. A lack of new cases being reported over the past ten days offers hope that the outbreak is subsiding, but long-term questions about prevention and accountability remain.

Image by Daniel Ford.

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A Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City has claimed its fifth life, with at least 72 people infected and health officials still investigating the source.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
News

Cabinet Office Warns of Punishment for ‘Deadnaming’ and ‘Misgendering.’

Leaked guidance from the British government’s Cabinet Office outlines disciplinary measures for civil servants accused of “misgendering” or “deadnaming” transgender colleagues, sparking concerns about free speech in the workplace.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Leaked guidance from the British government has revealed that civil servants could face misconduct investigations for “misgendering” transgender colleagues.
📺 DETAIL: The British Cabinet Office, roughly equivalent to the Executive Office of the President, issued official guidance warning civil servants that “deliberate deadnaming or misgendering” could be disciplined. The leaked guidance also warns against denying transgender colleagues access to their preferred bathroom and using biologically accurate pronouns. The document states that to “mock or invalidate a person’s trans identity is unacceptable and should be investigated,” and frames such speech as a potential violation of workplace conduct rules. The “official sensitive” guidance was revised following a ruling by the Supreme Court, which affirmed that “sex” is biologically defined in law. “Departments are expected to update their own HR policies and these are currently under review… it would be inappropriate to share while this is ongoing,” said a Cabinet Office spokesman.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Deliberate deadnaming or misgendering to deny, mock or invalidate a person’s trans identity is unacceptable and should be investigated as potential misconduct.” – Cabinet Office guidance.
🎯 IMPACT: The policy has raised concerns about free speech in the workplace. It also suggests a gap in the culture, values, and priorities of the Civil Service and the wider country. This guidance comes amid a broader and intense debate in British public life surrounding transgenderism and access to single-sex spaces and facilities.
📺 FLASHBACK: This is not the only censorious measure regarding transgenderism in the United Kingdom. Last month, it was reported that a new law could see parents, teachers, and doctors imprisoned for trying to talk a child out of transgender treatment. “This is a dangerous proposal that will harm the people it purports to protect,” warned Maya Forstater, Chief Executive of Sex Matters, a gender critical advocacy group.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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Leaked guidance from the British government's Cabinet Office outlines disciplinary measures for civil servants accused of "misgendering" or "deadnaming" transgender colleagues, sparking concerns about free speech in the workplace.

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By Popular Demand.
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8 hours ago
Immigration
News
UK

Migrant Boat Crossings Recommence Under New UK PM Andy Burnham.

Illegal crossings of the English Channel by small boats filled with illegal immigrants have resumed just days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Illegal boat migrant crossings of the English Channel have resumed under new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after a brief lull in the final days of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, multiple small boats carrying illegal immigrants crossed the English Channel and arrived in Dover, Kent, on the southern coast of England. The boats had set off from northern France. Since the Labour Party came to power in July 2024 under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, over 77,000 migrants have crossed the Channel. Wednesday’s crossings are the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, following an 11-day pause in arrivals. There have been 12,469 illegal Channel crossings so far this year, according to Home Office data. Prime Minister Andy Burnham entered 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence, on Monday after he won a parliamentary by-election (special election) to re-enter the House of Commons and ran uncontested for Labour leader.
🎯 IMPACT: The continuation of illegal Channel crossings shows the new Prime Minister has inherited unresolved problems at the border. The restarting of illegal crossings creates immediate pressure on Burnham. Earlier this month, it was reported that the new premier could water down Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s pending immigration restrictios to appease hard-left Labour Members of Parliament (MPs). Immigration control and reduction remains one of the top priorities of the British public. As such, the new Prime Minister’s handling of small boats is likely to be treated as a proxy for his broader approach to immigration, and whether it differs from the approach of his predecessor.

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Illegal crossings of the English Channel by small boats filled with illegal immigrants have resumed just days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office.

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By Popular Demand.
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8 hours ago
News

Who is Miatta Fahnbulleh? New UK PM’s Far-Left ‘Net Zero’ Secretary Comes From Family of Powerful African Radicals.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, appointed as Andy Burnham’s Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has a family history intertwined with radical politics and government upheavals in her native Liberia.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former asylum seeker Miatta Fahnbulleh has been appointed as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero by newly installed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, drawing attention to her family’s controversial past in Liberia.
📰 DETAIL: Fahnbulleh’s family, known as “Vai aristocrats,” were involved in multiple government overthrow attempts in Liberia, fleeing to Britain in the 1980s. Her father, Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh Jr., served as foreign minister under Liberia’s former dictator Samuel Doe, who took power in a violent military coup in 1986 and suspended the constitution. By 1989, the country had fallen into civil war. Soldiers loyal to Doe massacred 600 civilians in a church in 1990, with the dictator being captured and put to death by insurgents later the same year. Fahnbulleh’s grandfather, Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh Sr., was convicted of treason over connections with Chinese communists in the late 1960s. This background draws parallels to figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar in the U.S., whose family also fled a regime they once served in Somalia.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Much like Rep. Ilhan Omar in America, Miatta’s family actually worked for the government they later fled… Her grandfather was even charged with treason for cavorting with Chinese communists in the late 1960s. Miatta is just another in a long line of anti-Western, far leftists.” – Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse
🎯 IMPACT: The appointment of Fahnbulleh could influence the direction of the British government’s net zero agenda under Burnham, potentially aligning them with more radical leftist ideologies. She was previously Director of Policy and Chief Executive of the left-wing Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the New Economics Foundation, respectively, and has advocated for harsh windfall taxes on energy firms, a wealth tax, and imposing tax hikes on capital gains and higher earners, as well as pensioners. The commitment of Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, to net zero was a source of significant friction with the Trump administration in the U.S., with the President urging the then-Prime Minister to reopen the North Sea to oil and gas exploration to bring down the country’s sky-high energy prices.

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Miatta Fahnbulleh, appointed as Andy Burnham's Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has a family history intertwined with radical politics and government upheavals in her native Liberia.

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By Popular Demand.
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9 hours ago
News
War

U.S. Will Blow Up a Bridge or Power Plant Every Time Iran Fires at a Ship: Trump.

President Trump has announced a new policy on retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting critical infrastructure for any attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump declared that the United States will retaliate against Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, warning in a Wednesday morning Truth Social post that one bridge or power plant will be destroyed every time the Islamic Republic opens fire on a commercial ship.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: This policy, if implemented, will mark a significant escalation in the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran, with strikes previously limited largely to high-profile Iranian political and military leaders and military assets and infrastructure.
📰 DETAIL: The announcement follows a series of U.S. strikes against Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran, despite a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan in June aimed at ending the conflict, which first began in February. President Trump announced the ceasefire was “over” earlier this month after Iran broke it by firing on commercial ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil, natural gas, and fertilizer supplies. At least four U.S. service members have been confirmed killed since hostilities resumed at scale.

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President Trump has announced a new policy on retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting critical infrastructure for any attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

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By Popular Demand.
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