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Wednesday, March 25, 2026
42 minutes ago
News

Apple Update Imposes ID Checks on Every UK iPhone User.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Apple’s iOS 26.4 update has introduced mandatory age verification for all British iPhone users, requiring proof of being 18 or older to access certain features and services.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Apple, British communications regulator Ofcom, and the British government, under the framework of the Online Safety Act.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The update was released on March 24, 2023, and affects an estimated 35 million iPhone users in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families,” Ofcom claims.

🎯IMPACT: Users must link a credit card, scan a government-issued ID, or face restricted access, with Apple’s Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features automatically activated for accounts failing verification.

IN FULL

On March 24, Apple rolled out iOS 26.4 and introduced mandatory age verification for every iPhone user in the United Kingdom. The update requires account holders to confirm they are at least 18 before they can use certain features and services.

Verification can be completed by linking a credit card, scanning a government-issued ID, or having an account history that automatically qualifies the user as an adult. Anyone who does not verify is subject to Apple’s Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features, which block certain websites and scan communications for explicit material.

Ofcom, the British communications regulator, welcomed the step, calling it “a real win for children and families.” The agency said it had collaborated closely with Apple and other services to roll out age-assurance measures required by the Online Safety Act. Even so, Apple’s approach exceeds the law’s draconian requirements.

Critics say the policy places needless limits on millions of British users, effectively turning their devices into supervised environments unless they hand over sensitive personal information. User reports indicate that people without a credit card or government ID have no workaround and must simply accept the restrictions.

Britain’s age-verification drive has already produced side effects, including a sharp rise in VPN usage as people seek ways around the rules. Apple’s actions in Britain are widely viewed as a possible blueprint for similar requirements elsewhere.

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2 hours ago
Politics

A Democrat Will Now Represent Trump in the Florida Legislature.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats flipped Florida’s 87th House District seat in a special election, a district won by President Donald J. Trump in 2024, which includes his Palm Beach residence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Donald Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Florida’s 87th House District, including areas such as Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard.” — Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried

🎯IMPACT: The victory adds to a series of Democratic special-election wins, and is another signal to the Trump White House that voters want greater focus on domestic matters.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump was dealt a political blow late Tuesday night when Democrats managed to flip Florida‘s 87th State House District in a special election, which includes his Palm Beach residence of Mar-a-Lago. The district was carried by Trump during the 2024 presidential election by over 10 points and has historically leaned Republican.

Democrat candidate Emily Gregory defeated the Republican nominee Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Trump, with over 51 percent of the vote. In 2024, State Representative Mike Caruso (R-FL) won the seat by 19 points.

Gregory was able to overcome the district’s Republican partisan advantage by focusing her campaign predominantly on local issues impacting Florida, particularly housing affordability and skyrocketing property insurance premiums. The insurance issue has long plagued Republicans in Florida politics, with outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) failing to address it amid increasing legislative pushback.

Notably, while Maples touted his endorsement from Trump, Gregory largely avoided discussing the President while on the campaign trail. “I mean, I don’t think all of that much about it, right? He’s one of 115,000 registered voters in District 87,” she said, referring to President Trump.

Florida Republicans tried to downplay the results, but Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried celebrated the win, stating, “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard.”

The Democrats’ win is just the latest in voter signals to the Trump White House that the administration isn’t doing enough to assuage concerns about domestic conditions, especially regarding the economy. The National Pulse reported earlier this week that new polling data found 66 percent of independents—one of the, if not the most, critical voting blocs in U.S. elections—say the Trump administration is “focused too little” on domestic matters.

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2 hours ago
War
World

What the New Date for the Trump-Xi Summit Tells Us:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May, as announced by the White House.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The meeting is scheduled for May 14-15, with Xi expected to visit the U.S. at a later date.

💬KEY QUOTE: “My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The meeting comes as tensions rise in the Middle East, and global energy markets are roiled by oil volatility. However, the planned trip to China now falls outside the four- to six-week window for military operations against Iran that President Trump initially outlined on February 28.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump will now meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15 after the original March 31 summit was postponed due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The White House on Wednesday confirmed the new dates for the highly anticipated talks between the two leaders, with the planned trip to China now falling outside the four- to six-week window for military operations against Iran that President Trump initially outlined on February 28.

“My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the trip. He continued, “First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year. Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits. I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.”

While the summit will likely focus on the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, as well as foreign policy in the Pacific, the situation in Iran is likely to also be a topic of discussion. China accounts for upwards of 90 percent of Iran’s petroleum exports, and Iran’s oil accounts for about 20 percent of China’s energy imports. Since the start of 2026, the United States has significantly curtailed China’s access to cheap oil with the removal of Venezuela’s narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro and the U.S. takeover of its oil industry, along with the ongoing military strikes against Iran.

China’s export economy is heavily reliant on artificially deflating its currency and avoiding inflationary pressures, such as high energy prices. The National Pulse reported last week that Asian energy markets have been especially hit hard by energy price volatility due to the Iran conflict.

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3 hours ago
Economy
War

Iran War Forces USPS to Impose First-Ever Fuel Surcharge.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Postal Service is set to impose its first-ever eight percent fuel surcharge on packages.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Postal Service and Postmaster General David Steiner.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The surcharge begins in April 2026; it is planned to phase out by January 2027.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The agency will run out of money in a year.” – David Steiner

🎯IMPACT: This move aims to address financial struggles, similar to actions by FedEx and UPS.

IN FULL

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is set to impose an eight percent surcharge on packages in an effort to offset sharply rising fuel costs. This will be the first time the Postal Service has ever applied such a surcharge.

The new fee is scheduled to take effect in April 2026 and run through January 2027. Letter mail will not be affected. The decision brings the agency in line with other major parcel carriers such as FedEx and United Parcel Service, which have long used fuel surcharges and have recently raised them in response to higher oil prices linked to the Iran war.

Diesel prices have climbed to $5.38 per gallon—a 51 percent jump from a year ago. Postmaster General David Steiner has voiced serious concerns about the agency’s long-term financial health, warning it will “run out of money in a year.” He has called on lawmakers to ease regulatory limits that currently restrict the Postal Service’s ability to increase prices.

The Iran war is already wreaking havoc on energy markets worldwide, with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warning of a “stark and steep recession” if oil prices hit $150 a barrel. The Iranian regime has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway carrying much of the world’s oil supply, in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes against them.

The strait also carries a large share of global fertilizer supplies, with its closure having significant implications for American farmers.

Image by Sam LaRussa.

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4 hours ago
News
TECH

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is Laying Off Hundreds Across Multiple Divisions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Meta began laying off hundreds of employees, affecting its Reality Labs virtual reality division and at least four other divisions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Meta employees across Reality Labs, recruiting, sales, global operations, and Facebook social teams.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Layoffs began on Wednesday, with notifications continuing in the coming weeks, depending on location.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals.” – Meta spokesman

🎯IMPACT: Employees may be offered new roles, relocation options, or face job cuts as Meta shifts focus toward artificial intelligence (AI) investment.

IN FULL

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Wednesday that it will begin laying off hundreds of employees. The layoffs at the Mark Zuckerberg-led technology company will primarily impact its Reality Labs virtual reality division and at least four other departments, with Meta plowing more resources into artificial intelligence (AI) development instead.

“Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals,” a Meta spokesman said in a statement regarding the layoffs. They continued, claiming that efforts would be made to find “other opportunities for employees whose positions may be impacted.”

Outside Meta’s Reality Labs division, other departments impacted include recruiting, sales, global operations, and Facebook social teams. The company indicated that layoff notifications will continue to be sent in the coming weeks; however, some employees will be offered new roles or relocation options instead of outright dismissal.

Earlier this year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized a shift toward AI investments. In a January Facebook post, he stated, “We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.” Meta’s 2026 quarterly report projects Reality Labs’ operating losses will be similar to 2025 levels, alongside increased compensation expenses for AI-focused hires. Meta employed nearly 79,000 workers as of December last year.

Image by TechCrunch.

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4 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Philly DA Threatens ICE Agents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) threatened to prosecute U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed at the airport if they acted inappropriately.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Larry Krasner, ICE agents, and travelers at Philadelphia International Airport.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday at Philadelphia International Airport, following ICE deployment by President Donald J. Trump.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I will put you in handcuffs and I will put you in a courtroom, and if necessary, I will put you in a jail cell…” – Larry Krasner

🎯IMPACT: Krasner has a long history of threatening federal immigration agents, comparing them to Nazis and stating that he will “hunt them down.”

IN FULL

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D)—one of a number of local prosecutors backed by far-left billionaire George Soros—threatened U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assisting with security at the Philadelphia International Airport with prosecution if they “commit crimes.” The warning, issued by Krasner on Tuesday, was intended to deter and hamper federal officers from carrying out their legal duties.

“This is how it works—you commit crimes within the jurisdiction that is the city and county of Philadelphia, I prosecute you. That is how it works. No, I don’t take a phone call from the President saying, ‘Let ’em go.’ No, the President cannot pardon you. I’ll say it again, the President cannot pardon you,” Krasner said. “I will put you in handcuffs and I will put you in a courtroom, and if necessary, I will put you in a jail cell if you decide to [do] anything like you did in the streets of Minneapolis, which involved the criminal homicide of unarmed, innocent people.”


The far-left Democrat prosecutor repeated his threat on Wednesday in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter). “To anyone who is an ICE agent, thank you for upholding the law and the Constitution of the United States. But if you don’t, you’re gonna find out,” Krasner stated.

ICE agents have been surged to airports around the country by President Donald J. Trump to backfill and assist with security screenings as thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have either quit or called off work amid missed paychecks due to the Senate Democrats’ refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).


Notably, this is not the first time that Krasner has threatened federal agents, especially those who work for ICE. The National Pulse reported in January this year that Krasner smeared ICE agents as  “wannabe Nazis,” and vowed to prosecute them.

“If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities; we will find you; we will achieve justice,” he said at the time.

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4 hours ago
News
UK

The British Government is Rushing Through a RETROACTIVE Law Specifically Targeting Large Donors to Farage’s Reform Party.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British government announced a £100,000 (~$135,000) annual cap on political donations from British citizens living abroad and a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations, which will apply retroactively.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Communities Secretary, Steve Reed, former civil servant Philip Rycroft, Reform Party donor Christopher Harborne, and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The measures will take effect from Wednesday, pending parliamentary approval.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am not prepared to allow any window of opportunity for malign actors to interfere in the UK’s electoral system.” – Steve Reed

🎯IMPACT: The decision affects major Reform Party donors like Christopher Harborne, and is clearly aimed at undermining Reform financially.

IN FULL

The British government has announced a new £100,000 (~$135,000) annual limit on political donations from British citizens living overseas, together with a temporary ban on donations made in cryptocurrency. A press release warned that the government would “deliver these changes with retrospective effect.”

“Once the legislation comes into force, political parties and regulated entities like candidates and [Members of Parliament] will then have 30 days to return any unlawful donations they may have received in the interim, after which enforcement action can be taken,” it stated.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Communities Secretary, Steve Reed, claimed he was “not prepared to allow any window of opportunity for malign actors to interfere in the UK’s electoral system,” but the move is plainly aimed at Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, which is consistently leading Starmer’s Labour Party in national polls. Reform has received substantial funding from Thailand-based British donor Christopher Harborne and other contributors based in Monaco. It is also the only major British party to have accepted cryptocurrency donations, although none declared so far have exceeded £11,180 (~$15,000).

The measures draw on recommendations made by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft, who has described Britain’s 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union as a “fatal mistake.” He alleged there are risks of possible influence from hostile states such as Russia, China, and Iran—as well as from allies including the United States—under the status quo.

On cryptocurrency, Rycroft recommended a temporary moratorium while regulators develop safeguards. He stated, “There is a risk that crypto assets are used as a vehicle to channel in foreign money.”

Reform’s Shadow Home Secretary, Zia Yusuf, said Rycroft is “a leftist political activist cosplaying as an independent civil service grandee,” warning that “The money he has made from the Chinese to do their bidding will be a focus for a Reform government.”

Image by Lauren Turley / No 10 Downing Street.

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5 hours ago
William Upton
News

Cops Raid Rothschild Bank in Epstein Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Paris offices of the Edmond de Rothschild Group—a Swiss private banking and asset management firm owned by the family of the same name—were raided by French investigators last Friday in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: French diplomat Fabrice Aidan, Jeffrey Epstein, the Edmond de Rothschild Group, and Ariane de Rothschild.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The raid occurred last Friday and was revealed on March 24, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The raid and document seizure appear tied to French diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who was named over 200 times in the Epstein Files and once worked for the Edmond de Rothschild Group.

IN FULL

The Paris offices of the Edmond de Rothschild Group—a Swiss private banking and asset management firm owned by the family of the same name—were raided by French investigators last Friday in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Announced on Tuesday, the raid and document seizure appear tied to French diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who was named over 200 times in the Epstein Files and once worked for the Edmond de Rothschild Group.

Notably, the DOJ documents revealed alleged emails sent by Aidan to Epstein from between 2010 and 2016, during which the former—for three of those years—served as a French deputy representative at the United Nations. The Epstein Files indicated that Aidan, using both his personal and U.N. email accounts, transferred confidential materials—including U.N. Security Council memos—to the now deceased pedophile financier.

While Aidan has denied any wrongdoing, the French government has already initiated a formal administrative case against him. Notably, Ariane de Rothschild—the CEO of the private Swiss bank—was present during the raid. The widow of the late Benjamin de Rothschild, Ariane de Rothschild, is the first non-blood family member to run a Rothschild financial institution.

Sources close to French government prosecutors claim the Rothschild family is cooperating with the investigation. Ariane de Rothschild is also mentioned in the Epstein Files, which show she corresponded with the indicted sex trafficker between 2013 and 2019. A spokesman for the Edmond de Rothschild Group claims the private bank’s CEO was unaware of the allegations against Epstein.

Notably, the raid follows a pattern of post-Epstein Files release investigations that have centered on the deceased pedophile’s relationship with European officials and his access to sensitive government information. The National Pulse reported in early February that several properties owned by former British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson, were raided by police in connection with an investigation into his alleged leaking of confidential information to Epstein.

On February 23, Lord Mandelson was arrested “on suspicion of misconduct in public office.”  A week earlier, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion that he had passed confidential trade documents to Epstein.

Image by Alessandro Boglio.

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6 hours ago
Health

Sharing a Vape Put Teen in Life-Threatening Coma.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A teenager fell into a coma from contracting meningitis after sharing a vape.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sian Alderton, an 18-year-old from Norfolk, England, and her mother, Kerrie Durrant.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Alderton contracted meningitis in October 2024, in Norfolk, England; she and her mother reported the incident in March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I did share a vape with multiple people on that night out, so we believe that’s where I would have gotten it from.” – Sian Alderton

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the health risks associated with vapes.

IN FULL

A mother in Norfolk, England, is warning others after her daughter was placed in a medically-induced coma due to meningitis contracted from sharing a vape. Sian Alderton, then 18, was enjoying a night out in October 2024 when she contracted bacterial meningitis B. Within just 48 hours, Sian’s condition deteriorated from mild illness to a life-threatening state.

Amid a new meningitis outbreak in England over recent weeks, Sian’s mother, Kerrie Durrant, recounted to local news how her daughter exhibited strange behavior before her condition dramatically worsened overnight, leading to a critical situation where she was struggling to move and required immediate hospitalization.

Upon her admission to the hospital, doctors placed Sian in an induced coma as her condition became dire. The family was informed that she might not survive beyond 24 hours. Fortunately, she did, explaining, “I did share a vape with multiple people on that night out, so we believe that’s where I would have gotten it from,” adding, “I wouldn’t share [a vape] with anybody anymore.”

Vapes also present a threat to wildlife. Viral videos have spread over recent days showing squirrels, attracted by the vapes’ fruity aromas, “vaping” after mistaking discarded devices for food. They are also a fire hazard, with a blaze at an unregistered store in Glasgow, Scotland, recently burning down a 175-year-old building and causing the country’s largest railway station to close for days.

Even more troublingly, vape stores on both sides of the Atlantic have become hubs for anti-social behavior and organized crime, including human trafficking and immigration crime.

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7 hours ago
War

Counter-Terror Police Arrest Two Over Firebombing of Jewish Community Ambulances.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two men were arrested following an anti-Semitic firebomb attack on ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in north London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Counter-terror police detained two men aged 45 and 47, and are searching for a third suspect.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred early Monday morning in Golders Green, north London, with arrests made on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.” — Helen Flanagan, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns of rising anti-Semitism in England and potential links to Iran-backed groups.

IN FULL

Police have arrested two men in north London in connection with a March 23 firebomb attack targeting Jewish Community Ambulance Service ambulances outside a synagogue in Golders Green. The attack, which briefly forced the evacuation of nearby homes after oxygen canisters inside the ambulances exploded, is being investigated by London’s Metropolitan Police as an “anti-Semitic hate crime.”

The two suspects, aged 45 and 47, were detained on Wednesday and charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Notably, this charge could carry a life sentence. Both men are said by police to have British citizenship. Helen Flanagan, leading the counter-terrorism effort, emphasized the urgency of the investigation, stating, “This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.”

“We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active,” Flanagan added.

Shortly after the firebombing, a terrorist group identifying itself as Harakat al-Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) claimed responsibility for the attack. However, there appears to be scant evidence that HIYA actually exists, and British security officials speaking with the media have indicated they believe “it is a front and a brand invented by Iranian intelligence or the Quds Force.”

Iran’s Quds Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that carries out clandestine extraterritorial military operations, warned it would begin carrying out attacks against the United States and its allies after President Donald J. Trump authorized Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

“The enemy should know that their happy days are over and they will no longer be safe anywhere in the world, not even in their own homes,” the Quds Force said in a statement read on state television just days after the joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes began.

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