A tragic story of trying to survive as a Palestinian Bedouin caught in illegal settler violence activity in the West Bank:
An extract:
But in 1948, they were expelled from their homes by Zionist paramilitary and later military forces during the Nakba.
Pushed north to the West Bank, controlled by Jordan from 1948 to 1967, they drifted through Masafer Yatta and towards Ramallah, searching for land wide enough to sustain a herding community. In 1967, the Israelis once again forced them out, this time after they captured the West Bank in a war.
“They gave us 24 hours – they expelled us towards al-Muarrajat – no water, in September,” recalled Abu Najjeh. Throughout the 1970s, various Israeli military orders pushed them around different areas in the southern West Bank, and towards Ramallah, he explained. “Since 1967,” he said, “we haven’t rested a single day.”
Around 1980, they finally found what started to feel like home. In the hills east of Ramallah, at a place called Ein Samiya – named for the nearby spring – the community put down roots, remaining there for more than 40 years. The flocks grew to thousands, and the children had a school. “The feeling was one of ease,” Abu Najjeh said, the only moment where the urgency dropped from his voice. “The livestock could graze all the way to the spring at al-Auja, drink, and come back to us. It was a blessed life.”
Starting in the 1990s, the community faced periodic demolitions of their tent homes from Israeli authorities, who almost never grant building permits for Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli administrative control. With help from humanitarian organisations like Action Against Hunger, they were able to weather such demolitions.
And on Nakba anniverary, the Israelis were delighted in the killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of the armed wing of the Palestinian group in Gaza, also members of his family were killed.
Hamas confirms killing of Qassam Brigades leader in Israeli attack
Israel targeted Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’s armed wing in Gaza, in an attack that killed seven people.3 mins
A funeral is held for Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, commandeer of Hamas’s military wing, and his wife and daughter on May 16, 2026 at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque in Gaza City, Gaza [Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images]
Hamas has confirmed the killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of the armed wing of the Palestinian group in Gaza, in an Israeli attack a day earlier.
Hamas condemned Israel’s “treacherous and cowardly assassination” of al-Haddad, who led the Qassam Brigades, in a statement on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israeli forces had targeted and killed al-Haddad, calling him “one of the architects” of the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Hamas said al-Haddad was killed along with his wife, his daughter, and other Palestinian civilians on Friday evening.
The Israeli strikes targeted the Remal neighbourhood west of Gaza City. Three Palestinians were killed in a strike on a civilian vehicle, and four others died in a strike on a building, medical sources said.
Three women and a baby were among those killed, sources told Al Jazeera. Dozens of other people were wounded.
Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim Al Khalili, reporting from Gaza on the attack that killed al-Haddad, said the strikes caused “panic” at the scene as dozens of Palestinians were forced to flee the “massive fire” that engulfed the residential building.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the US have criticized the Trump administration’s plans to cancel a troop deployment to Poland. It came after Trump ordered the pullout of 5,000 troops from Germany.
The Pentagon said it is halting the deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland, according to US officials, after President Donald Trump’s administration said it would pull out thousands of soldiers in Germany.
The 4,000 troops in question belong to the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.
After multiple sources previously told the Guardian that Erik Prince – Maga ally and founder of the now defunct mercenary company Blackwater – was looking to work with Ukraine’s invaluable drone sector, recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) documents confirm he now is.
Swarmer, which bills itself as a battle-tested Ukrainian startup specializing in autonomous drone software, filed for an initial public offering and has recruited Prince to help sell the company as non-executive chair.
“Swarmer is a software-first defense technology company focused on collaborative autonomy and intelligent swarming, originating from the cauldron of modern combat in Ukraine,” said Prince in a letter to prospective stockholders in the filing, released earlier this month.
“Since April 2024, Swarmer’s platform has been deployed in Ukraine with more than 100,000 real-world missions in active combat environments, informing the software and machine-learning models that feed into it.”
Defense industry hawks have eyed the battlefield intelligence the Ukrainian military has accrued in over four years of combat with Russia. The war has caused close to 2m casualties, but global military elites, like Prince, are also seeing glimpses of what a future war between world powers might look like and what products the US or its geopolitical rival China will need to buy.
In 2023, Prince was linked to a proposed deal to deploy over 2,000 mercenaries from Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina to North Kivu to secure mining areas and counter the M23 rebel advance. This plan, reportedly brokered by the UAE, did not materialize, and no formal agreement was reached. Similarly, earlier discussions about deploying thousands of contractors to eastern Congo also failed to culminate in a contract. These unfulfilled proposals highlight Prince’s long-standing interest in the DRC’s mineral and security landscape, though they also underscore the challenges of operating in conflict zones like North Kivu, where M23 rebels have consolidated control.
Current Focus: Katanga, Not Kisangani
Prince’s current operations are concentrated in the southern Katanga province, far from the conflict-ridden eastern regions controlled by M23 rebels. The Katanga region, rich in copper and cobalt, is a strategic priority for the DRC government, which seeks to recover lost revenue and strengthen its economic position amid broader U.S.-DRC talks on a minerals-for-security deal. There is no verified evidence that Prince has deployed military troops or advisers in Kisangani, a city approximately 250 miles from M23’s westernmost advance in Walikale. Reports indicate that M23 rebels have not yet reached Kisangani, and Prince’s activities remain geographically and operationally distinct from this region.
A Hong Kong-listed security firm founded by Erik Prince has signed a preliminary deal with authorities in China to build a training centre in Xinjiang
FSG, which has a Hong Kong headquarters, has built up a wealth of contracts both inside China and for Chinese companies operating overseas, particularly in Africa.
A Hong Kong-listed security firm founded by Erik Prince has signed a preliminary deal with authorities in China to build a training centre in Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims have experienced a huge security crackdown.
Frontier Services Group, which specialises in providing security and logistics for businesses operating in risky regions, said it had signed a deal to run a training base in the city of Kashgar, according to a statement posted on its Chinese website.
The firm was founded by Erik Prince, a former US Navy Seal and the brother of the US education secretary, Betsy DeVos.
Erik Prince: Fraud Allegations and Blackwater Controversy
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, has been at the center of numerous legal battles, including a fraud lawsuit alleging that the company overbilled the U.S. government and submitted fraudulent expens…
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, the private military company that became infamous for its operations in conflict zones, remains one of the most controversial figures in the private security industry. His company was involved in numerous operations for the U.S. government, including security services in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, in recent years, Blackwater has faced serious allegations of fraud and misconduct. This article takes a deep dive into the fraud lawsuit that accused Erik Prince and his company of overbilling the U.S. government, including billing for inappropriate expenses. We’ll explore the case’s background, legal proceedings, the broader implications of the lawsuit, and the impact of these revelations on the private military contracting industry.
The Rise of Blackwater: Background on Erik Prince’s Company
The Birth of Blackwater
Blackwater was founded in 1997 by Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy SEAL. His initial vision was to create a company that would provide professional training for military and law enforcement agencies. Blackwater’s early focus was on providing specialized training for military personnel, but as the company grew, it expanded its operations to offer a wide range of services, including private security for high-profile individuals, corporate clients, and U.S. government agencies.
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Blackwater rapidly expanded its services, particularly in Iraq, where the U.S. military sought to outsource security services. By the mid-2000s, Blackwater had become a major player in the world of private military contractors, with billions of dollars in contracts from the U.S. government. Erik Prince, as the CEO, oversaw the company’s operations and ensured its aggressive growth strategy.
Blackwater’s Involvement in the Iraq War
Blackwater gained significant notoriety during the Iraq War, where it provided security services to U.S. government officials, military personnel, and contractors working in the region. One of the most infamous incidents involving Blackwater was the 2004 Nisour Square shooting, in which Blackwater contractors opened fire on civilians, killing 17 people. This event sparked outrage and led to increased scrutiny of Blackwater’s operations.
While Blackwater was contracted to provide security, the company was criticized for its heavy-handed approach, lack of accountability, and the behavior of its employees. The incident further fueled concerns about the ethical and legal standards of private military contractors working in conflict zones.
The Fraud Lawsuit Against Erik Prince and Blackwater
The Whistleblower Allegations
In 2008, former Blackwater employees Brad and Melan Davis filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Blackwater had engaged in fraudulent billing practices. The whistleblower lawsuit claimed that Blackwater had submitted inflated or improper invoices for security services and had billed the U.S. government for expenses that were not directly related to its contracts. These expenses included the use of prostitutes for workers in Afghanistan and strippers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The whistleblowers claimed that the company had a pattern of dishonesty, submitting falsified documents to secure payments from the U.S. government. The lawsuit brought attention to the lack of transparency and accountability within Blackwater, raising questions about the company’s business practices and its relationship with the government.
The Nature of the Allegations
The whistleblowers specifically pointed to several areas where they claimed Blackwater had defrauded the government. This included overbilling for services that were never rendered or billed at inflated rates. One of the most shocking claims was that Blackwater had charged for “adult entertainment” during deployments in the Middle East, allegedly seeking reimbursement for the use of prostitutes, which was clearly outside the scope of its contracts.
The allegations also extended to fraudulent billing for logistical support, including the transportation of goods and personnel. According to the whistleblowers, these invoices were either falsified or exaggerated, resulting in the company receiving funds it was not entitled to.
Legal Consequences for Erik Prince and Blackwater
In 2010, Erik Prince was questioned by federal authorities regarding the allegations, and the lawsuit continued to unfold. Although the U.S. government had declined to join the case, suggesting that it did not have enough evidence to pursue criminal charges, the civil lawsuit raised significant concerns about Blackwater’s practices.
Despite these challenges, Blackwater maintained that the allegations were unfounded and defended its actions. The company argued that the whistleblower lawsuit was a result of disgruntled former employees and that the company had always acted within the law. However, the growing public scrutiny and the nature of the allegations continued to damage the company’s reputation.
Government Investigations and Oversight
Federal Investigations into Overbilling Practices
As part of its ongoing investigations into Blackwater’s operations, the U.S. government launched an audit of the company’s billing practices. In 2009, the State Department conducted an audit of Blackwater’s contracts, revealing that the company had submitted invoices for services that were not performed. The audit found that Blackwater had overbilled the government by millions of dollars, which led to further investigations into the company’s financial dealings.
One key finding from the audit was that Blackwater had failed to provide sufficient documentation to support its claims for reimbursement. The State Department audit suggested that Blackwater had submitted invoices for security services that were not delivered in full or at the agreed-upon rates. These findings contributed to growing concerns about the integrity of the company’s operations and its relationship with the government.
Other Investigations and Allegations
In addition to the fraud allegations, Blackwater faced numerous other legal challenges. The company’s contractors were involved in multiple incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan, including allegations of human rights violations and excessive use of force. These incidents led to federal investigations into the company’s activities, particularly regarding its role in military operations and its interactions with the U.S. government.
At the same time, Blackwater was scrutinized for its lack of oversight and its apparent disregard for the laws governing private military contractors. The company was accused of operating in a legal grey area, with limited accountability for its actions in conflict zones.
Blackwater’s Transformation and Erik Prince’s Departure
Rebranding and Moving Forward
In the aftermath of the scandal and the legal challenges it faced, Blackwater rebranded itself as Xe Services and later as Academi. This rebranding was part of an effort to distance the company from its controversial past and to rebuild its reputation. Despite the changes in name and leadership, the company continued to operate in the private security and military contracting industry.
However, the legal challenges and the public scrutiny remained, and Blackwater’s history continued to follow it. The company struggled to regain the trust of both the public and government agencies, and its contracts were increasingly scrutinized for transparency and accountability.
Here in the UK I may soon be unable to buy my staple food of organic chickpea flour and bags of chickpeas in quantity, due to a world shortage.
An AI search produced this:
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A global chickpea shortage is expected due to weather conditions, war, and supply chain issues, which may lead to a decrease in hummus and other chickpea-based products. Chickpea crop yields are anticipated to drop as much as 20 percent this year, with Russia and Ukraine, major exporters, facing significant disruptions.
Today, the importance of legumes is underestimated in most countries. Not only does it play a crucial role in the diet of millions of people in developing countries, but the United Nations also encourages the consumption of these edible seeds as an alternative source of animal protein. Iran is one of the major exporters of legumes, especially chickpeas, and accounts for one percent of global production of legumes. This study was aimed to investigate chickpea production and adaptability strategies under future climate change conditions to achieve maximum grain yield. Climatic data on the baseline (1981–2010) was used as input for general circulation models to run RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, to compare with predicted data for near (2021–2050) and far (2051–2080) climate change and to determine the extent of climate change. The CROPGRO-Chickpea model from DSSAT software was used to simulate the effects of climate change and evaluate adaptation strategies. Under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, the grain yield was improved by 1.0 % and 17.1 %, respectively, in near climate change and by 2.3 % and 11.0 % in far climate change compared to baseline (1215/48 kg ha−1). Early sowing of different cultivars improved grain yield, with ILC482 cultivar showing the shortest phenological development stage and the highest grain yield under climate change. In conclusion, a combination of early cultivars and early sowing date can be an appropriate management strategies for chickpea production in Kermanshah region under climate change.
Iran was a major producer, but years of drought have left the country, and its 93 million population, without easy access to water. Drought kills crops. Many parts of the world have been hit by drought, leading to starvation, for examole, Somalia. But the crisis in Iran traps them into threatening all of us if we do not help them:
The Karun River and other historically vital water sources have been severely depleted, while once-prominent wetlands such as Hamoon have largely dried up.
Temperatures have intensified the shortages, with parts of southwestern Iran recording highs above 50°C.
Iran is warming at roughly twice the global average, accelerating evaporation and exacerbating drought conditions.
Extreme weather patterns, including alternating floods and droughts, have strained infrastructure and agricultural systems.
The shortages have also driven cross-border tensions.
Iran accuses Afghanistan of withholding water from the Helmand River in violation of a 1973 treaty, while clashes in 2023 resulted in casualties on both sides.
Iraq has similarly accused Iran of diverting tributaries feeding the Tigris River, reducing flows to downstream communities.
In response, Iran has launched desalination projects drawing water from the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, with multi-billion-dollar investments in pipelines to central and eastern provinces.
However, the projects face high operating costs and environmental concerns.
Experts estimate that up to 70% of Iran’s groundwater reserves have already been depleted, raising concerns over long-term sustainability.
The Ministry of Energy has warned that 19 of Iran’s 31 provinces are currently experiencing severe drought conditions, with some towns dependent on trucked water deliveries and strict rationing.
Disruptions have also triggered an increase in dust storms, particularly in Sistan and Baluchestan, where air quality has deteriorated significantly, causing widespread respiratory illness.
Ukraine, another war hit region, also used to be a major grower of chickpeas, and these geopolitical conflicts exacerbate an already insecure food supply for the world.
As the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked off the vital flow of energy, so producers cannot put fuel in the machines that collect and bag the crop. Merchant ships cannot travel through the Strait to the eagerly awaiting customers.
One of Trump’s threats was to destroy Iran’s newly built desalination plants:
Trump threat to destroy Iran’s water desalination plants would be war crime, legal experts say
On Sunday, May 10, while millions of Mexicans were celebrating Mother’s Day, 18-year-old Kevin González died of colon cancer, just one day after reuniting with his parents in Durango, Mexico.
His parents, Isidoro González and Norma Anabel Ramírez, had arrived after being detained in Arizona for entering the United States without documents.
Kevin had been diagnosed in January with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. He had been living in Chicago with his brother Jovany after his parents were deported to Mexico. The severity of his illness and the specialized treatment he required made it impossible for him to travel to see them.
After doctors informed the family that Kevin was no longer responding to treatment, his parents applied for humanitarian permits to enter the United States, according to his grandmother, Virginia Amaya, who spoke to Telemundo Chicago, the first outlet to report the story. The requests were denied.
As Kevin’s condition rapidly worsened, González Avilés, 48, and Ramírez Amaya, 43, attempted to cross the border without authorization in a final effort to reach their son.
They were detained by immigration authorities on April 14 near Douglas, Arizona, and transferred to a detention center. According to Fernando Sánchez, Mexico’s consul in Tucson, González Avilés had previously been deported in 2011 and did not have legal permission to reenter the United States.
During a court hearing in Tucson, González Avilés, visibly emotional, asked a federal judge to allow his return to Mexico so he could see his son.
Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva urged federal authorities to release the couple, calling the case one of “basic human decency.” After 45 days in custody, a federal judge authorized their expedited deportation to Hermosillo, Sonora, on May 7.
“This breaks my heart. I am asking ICE to act so Kevin can see his parents one last time. This is not about politics—it is about human decency,” Grijalva wrote on X.
The judge, noting his own role as a parent, approved their urgent return.
By the time the process was completed, Kevin’s condition had sharply deteriorated. He was no longer able to eat or drink water and could barely speak. Family members told Mexican media they feared the worst, saying Kevin refused to sleep out of fear he would not wake up in time to see his parents.
Mexican officials coordinated the reunion, and Isidoro and Norma traveled 16 hours by road from Hermosillo to Durango.
The family was finally reunited on the afternoon of May 9. Kevin was able to fulfill his final wish: to be surrounded by his parents and loved ones to say goodbye.
Mandelson was given secret spreadsheet to vet left-wing MPs in Labour power struggle
Whistleblower’s revelation shows extent of his direct involvement in bitter battle to gain control of the party ahead of 2024 election
February 04, 2026 12:24 pm (Updated 4:13 pm)
5 min read
A Labour source revealed Mandelson helped to identify potential candidates who were seen as too left-wing to run for the party (Photo: Jaimi Joy/Reuters)
Disgraced peer Peter Mandelson was directly involved in helping Morgan McSweeney select Labour’s parliamentary candidates ahead of the 2024 general election, a party whistleblower has told The i Paper.
The Labour source revealed how Mandelson helped to identify potential candidates who were seen as too left-wing to run for the party.
He was given access to a secret Google spreadsheet of potential candidates that McSweeney and his allies used, the source said.
McSweeney was the party’s campaigns director at the time and is now chief of staff at No 10.
A Labour Party spokesperson said Mandelson had “no role” in official candidate selection, but The i Paper understands the spreadsheet was an “off the books” exercise conducted amid the power struggles within the party.
The prime minister – who is clinging on to his premiership amid growing calls to resign – has been constantly embattled by the fallout from his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
The former Labour peer was sacked last September when new information about his links to Jeffrey Epstein emerged, and the scandal has threatened to bring down the government several times since.
MPs ordered the government to publish a huge tranche of documents connected to the appointment in February, but so far only a handful have been released.
According to Sky News, parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee – which decides which documents are excluded on the basis of being prejudicial to the national interest or damaging to international relations – is expected to announce the release of further files, which could come as soon as next week.
Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the US has been disastrous for the prime minister (PA)
Following his sacking, Lord Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords in March when fresh emails and photographs surfaced in the latest tranche of the so-called Epstein files in the US.
Lord Mandelson was arrested in late February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following claims he had leaked sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein when he was business secretary under then prime minister Gordon Brown.
Sir Keir has faced repeated calls to resign over the scandal, which Labour politicians said had hurt the party on the doorstep ahead of their devastating defeat in local elections last week.
Last month, Sadiq Khan warned the “omnishambles” of his appointment had left Labour in danger of “being stonked” across London in the local elections. The party went on to face defeats both in the capital and in historic strongholds across the country.
The party’s losses at the polls have left Sir Keir fighting for his political life, with almost 100 Labour MPs having publicly called for his resignation so far.
The party’s losses at the polls have left Starmer fighting for his political life, with almost 100 Labour MPs having publicly called for his resignation so far (AP)
As pressure continues to pile on the prime minister, his health secretary Wes Streeting is said to be preparing a leadership challenge, despite the prime minister stating he retained “full confidence” in the health secretary on Wednesday.
His former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, also appeared to pave the way for a bid on Thursday, as she revealed she has been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing following an investigation into her tax affairs.
The further release of Mandelson files will undoubtedly pile further pressure on Sir Keir if he has not yet resigned, but also threatens to implicate potential leadership challengers in government at the time of the appointment.
Mr Streeting last month admitted he failed to take reports of Lord Mandelson’s links to paedophile Epstein seriously when they emerged in 2023.
Wes Streeting is said to be preparing to stage a leadership challenge (PA)
The health secretary, who has faced questions over his political relationship and friendship with the disgraced peer, said he “absolutely” questioned his own judgement on the matter and said there had been a political and media failure to ask enough questions about their relationship before Lord Mandelson took up his post.
In February, Mr Streeting published a series of texts between himself and Lord Mandelson, revealing his criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s government, after Sky News suggested that he was “close friends” with Lord Mandelson.
The health secretary dismissed the claim as a “smear” by his critics within the party, although he admitted Lord Mandelson had helped him in the past, and he went on to delete social media posts with pictures of the two.
And so The Plan unfolds before our eyes. Bring Venezuela under US control and halt vital oil to Cuba. Put pressure on Iran and reduce supplies to China. Price of oil is at its highest, so US sells its reserves to the desperate world:
5/12/2026 2:00:54 PM NEWS CENTER Türkiye prepares to receive first shipment from US strategic oil reserves WORLD
Türkiye is preparing to receive its first crude oil shipment from the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and growing concerns over global energy supply routes.
The move comes as United States continues releasing large volumes of crude oil from its strategic reserves following disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran and fears over the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
Western media reports stated that Washington has released around 172 million barrels from its reserves as part of coordinated international efforts led by the International Energy Agency to stabilize rising oil prices and ease pressure on global markets.
The broader initiative reportedly aims to inject nearly 400 million barrels of oil into world markets following supply concerns triggered by tensions in the Gulf region.
According to energy analytics firm Kpler, the Greek-flagged Aframax tanker North Star loaded approximately 680,000 barrels of high-quality crude oil in April from the Brian Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility near Seaway, Texas.
The vessel is expected to arrive at Aliaga Port in mid-May.
Ship-tracking data and trading sources also indicated that the Hong Kong-flagged tanker DHT Antelope loaded nearly 1.1 million barrels of high-sulfur crude through a ship-to-ship transfer operation near Galveston, Texas, and is expected to unload its cargo in Türkiye later this month.
Kpler data reportedly showed that the tanker is carrying another shipment of American crude oil destined for the Turkish market.
Reports further indicated that additional shipments released from the US strategic reserves are already heading toward European destinations including Italy and Netherlands.
The development highlights growing volatility in global energy markets as geopolitical tensions continue to affect maritime trade routes and international oil supplies.
Biden sold off nearly half the U.S. oil reserve. Is it ready for a crisis?
Biden tapped the SPR last year when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices soaring. Now Republicans blame him for putting the nation’s energy security at risk.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserves’ diminished volumes limit President Biden’s options to respond to a future shock to the oil markets. | Brandon Bell/Getty Images
An energy crisis spawned by a Middle East war 50 years ago spurred the U.S. to create a huge crude oil stockpile to shield the country from threats by unfriendly nations.
Now the oil lying in half-filled salt caverns along the Gulf Coast is posing a political quandary for President Joe Biden.
Biden’s administration sold off more than 40 percent of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last year to help limit rising fuel prices after Russia invaded Ukraine, leaving the stockpile at its lowest levels since the early 1980s. That’s fueling Republican accusations that Biden has left the U.S. vulnerable to a disruption of global oil supplies — at a time when Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel are stoking fears of a wider regional war disrupting fuel shipments from the Middle East.
“That’s Joe Biden’s fault for trying to lower the price of gas before the election,” House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) told POLITICO.
Earlier, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) lamented to reporters that “our Strategic Petroleum Reserve is down to nothing.”
In fact, the reserve still holds 351 million barrels — equivalent to nearly 56 days of total U.S. oil imports last year — though well below the peak of 727 million barrels it held during the Obama administration. That’s on top of 424 million barrels that private companies were storing in the U.S. as of early October.
The administration has defended its handling of the reserve, saying it still holds ample crude to protect the nation’s strategic needs and offer a cushion against price shocks. “I am not worried about the reserve levels at all,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told a House committee in September, adding: “It is the largest strategic reserve in the world.”
For years, Trump hid his tax information from the public. Now he could be paid billions by the Internal Revenue Service or have his IRS audits dropped altogether. Does anybody care?
It sounds like the plot from a George Clooney-Brad Pitt summer blockbuster. A group of wise guys get together and come up with a scheme to steal $10 billion from the Internal Revenue Service. Call it “Ocean’s 47.” Except this taxpayer-supported “bank heist” is unfolding right before our eyes, according to former Justice Department pardon attorney Liz Oyer.
“This is like a bank heist if, you know, the teller, the bank teller’s in on it, the security guard at the door is also in on it. Everybody is conspiring to steal the money from the bank,” Oyer told me on my podcast Wednesday.
Of course, the star of “Ocean’s 47” is none other than Donald Trump (who’s no Clooney, granted). The New York Times is reporting that Trump and two of his sons could be paid at least $10 billion in a massive settlement with the IRS or have his audits dropped by the tax agency altogether. That’s because the Department of Justice is considering settling a lawsuit filed by Trump against the IRS over a leak of his tax information to news outlets, including the Times back in 2020. Trump is still steamed over the release of that information as it demonstrated how he had been paying little to no taxes for years. Trump to Fleece IRS Next?
“His Justice Department is willingly making themselves complicit in what is really just a straight flat out theft of taxpayer money, of your money, my money, our money. He is just dipping into taxpayer money and taking it for himself,” Oyer told me.
Trump has been dogged by tax questions since 2016 campaign. Photo by Jim Acosta
During the 2016 campaign, I was out on the trail with Trump when he repeatedly insisted he could not release his tax information to the public, something presidential candidates had done since Richard Nixon, because he was being audited by the IRS. At that time, Trump claimed he had nothing to hide.
“And when the audit is complete, I will release my returns. I don’t know when that is going to be. But when the audit is complete, I will release my returns. I have no problem with it. It doesn’t matter,” Trump said a decade ago.
Little did the public know at the time that Trump had just made up that excuse on the fly, according to Times journalist Maggie Haberman, who wrote about it in her book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.”
“Well, you know my taxes are under audit. I always get audited,” Trump said at the time, as Haberman reported in her book.
“So what I mean is… well I could just say, ‘I’ll release them when I’m no longer under audit. ‘Cause I’ll never not be under audit,’” he added, according to Haberman. Trump audit excuse
Even if Trump and the DOJ settle without any kind of award going to the first family, he could still take the taxpayers for a ride. Were the IRS to suddenly drop its years of Trump audits, the president could avoid paying some $100 million in taxes owed to Uncle Sam. Back in 2024, during Trump’s third campaign for the White House, the Times and Pro Publica reported that the disgraced ex-president “used a dubious accounting maneuver to claim improper tax breaks from his troubled Chicago tower, according to an Internal Revenue Service inquiry uncovered by The New York Times and ProPublica. Losing a yearslong audit battle over the claim could mean a tax bill of more than $100 million.” Trump Could Owe $100 Million in Taxes
Headline from NYT/Pro Publica investigation into Trump taxes in 2024
Sherritt International Corporation has turned to the Canadian courts in an effort to maintain its corporate framework, highlighting the significant impact of the Trump administration’s sanctions on the mining company, which has been closely linked to the Cuban regime for the past three decades.
This Monday, the company will file a request with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to secure two judicial orders: one to allow its reduced board of directors to continue operations with a quorum despite vacancies, and another to extend the deadline for holding its annual shareholders’ meeting to no later than September 30, 2026. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
The governance crisis erupted on Wednesday when three board members—Chairman Brian Imrie, Richard Moat, and Brett Richards—resigned with immediate effect, just hours after the company announced it was halting its direct involvement in all joint ventures in Cuba and beginning to repatriate its employees from the island.
The catalyst was Executive Order 14404, signed by Donald Trump on May 1, which expands sanctions against Cuba and introduces secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions dealing with blocked Cuban entities.
While Sherritt clarified it was not formally designated under this order, it acknowledged that its issuance “materially alters the corporation’s ability to operate normally.”
On May 6, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated GAESA, its executive president Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and Moa Nickel S.A.—the joint venture between Sherritt and the Cuban state—under the executive order, accusing the latter of “exploiting Cuba’s natural resources to benefit the regime at the expense of the Cuban people.”
Rubio also warned that “additional sanctions are expected in the coming days and weeks,” signaling that the pressure on the regime has not yet peaked.
The Impact on the Cuban Regime
Sherritt’s exit leaves the regime without its largest direct foreign investor since the early 1990s, with production at the Moa mine reaching 25,240 tons of nickel and 2,728 tons of cobalt in 2025, valued at approximately $490 million in gross annual revenue.
Additionally, the company was involved in electricity generation through Energas S.A., with an installed capacity of about 506 megawatts, equating to 10-15% of Cuba’s national electrical capacity, in a country already experiencing blackouts affecting over 55% of its territory.
HAVANA TIMES – Canadian mining company Sherritt International announced this Thursday, May 7, 2026, the immediate suspension of its direct participation in the joint ventures operating in Cuba, amid the new sanctions offensive driven by the Trump Administration. The company also confirmed the immediate resignation of three members of its board of directors — Brian Imrie, Richard Moat, and Brett Richards — following the signing of a US Executive Order issued on May 1 that expands restrictions against businesses linked to Cuba.
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stationed in Canada. The decision marks one of the most severe business blows suffered by Havana in recent years within the strategic nickel and cobalt sector.
The company maintained key operations in Moa, Holguin, through the joint venture Moa Nickel S.A., considered one of the Cuban regime’s main sources of foreign currency. However, for years Sherritt had been warning about the growing financial and operational risks of working on the island. In May 2025, the company reported losses of 40.6 million dollars in the first quarter and directly pointed to Cuba’s economic crisis as one of the central causes of the downturn.
The deterioration of the island’s electrical system has been another determining factor. Nickel production in 2024 reached only 83.3% of the planned target due to constant blackouts, fuel shortages, and industrial problems. According to the company’s financial reports, the power outages reduced the operating capacity of the plants and also affected cobalt extraction, a mineral Cuba uses to pay part of its debt to the Canadian company.
Havana (AFP) – The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban military conglomerate that controls nearly 40 percent of the island’s economy, as well as a Canadian mining company, as part of a mounting pressure campaign.
Issued on: 07/05/2026 – 21:29
Sherritt’s operations or other business activities.”
In mid-February, the company had already announced the suspension of its operations in Cuba due to the oil embargo imposed by the United States on the island.
Trump has mused about taking over arch-foe Cuba, which has been under a US embargo almost continuously since the 1959 communist revolution of Fidel Castro.
In January, he halted oil shipments from Cuba’s main supplier Venezuela and threatened other countries with tariffs if they sought to make up the shortfall.
Since then he has allowed only one Russian oil tanker through.
Three UN special experts said jointly Thursday that the fuel blockade amounted to “energy starvation,” and had “grave consequences” for human rights and development.
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