Blog

February 2, 2026

admin

Trump administration to break up major climate research center

The Trump administration plans to break up Colorado’s National Center for Atmospheric Research, the largest federal climate research lab. Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, announced the plan Tuesday in a statement on X. “The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado,” Vought wrote, linking to a story from USA Today, which was first to report on the administration’s effort. “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such

February 2, 2026

admin

‘Blind Into Caracas.’ – by James Fallows

From today’s press conference, after the US raid in Venezuela. At center, Marco Rubio, pretending that this was just a normal law-enforcement action. At left, the omnipresent Stephen Miller. At right, the person who has assumed one-man authority to disrupt the world economy with tariffs, launch lethal assaults on other nations, and declare a “boots on the ground” military occupation. Today, as shown, he struggled to maintain attention when anyone was speaking other than himself. (Photo Joe Raedle/Getty Images.) Here are ten quick reactions to the most disturbing presidential press conference I have seen in my life. 1. Trump himself

February 1, 2026

admin

Patek Philippe Cuts Prices In USA And Hikes Them In UK

Patek Philippe has cut prices by 8.6% in the United States. As WatchPro anticipated in a reported on December 8, the Geneva watchmaker reversed price rises and a cut to dealer margins that were introduced after America increased import tariffs on Swiss watches by 39% in August. Prices rose by around 15% in the United States on September 15, five weeks after President Trump slapped the punitive 39% tariff on Swiss watches entering the country. It was the second price rise triggered by the US administration’s tariff policy in six months — the first adjustment followed the imposition of an

February 1, 2026

admin

Vance, most Republicans block Senate resolution to curb Trump’s Venezuela efforts

U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a resolution on Wednesday that would have barred U.S. President Donald Trump from further military action in Venezuela without authorization from Congress, after the Republican president pressured party members who had supported ​it. The vote was 51-50 for a Republican point of order to dismiss the war powers resolution, as just three of Trump’s Republicans voted with every Democrat in favour of moving ahead and Vice-President JD Vance came to the Capitol to break the tie. Opponents had argued that the resolution should not move ahead because the U.S. does not currently have troops on the

February 1, 2026

admin

Washington’s China consensus is breaking

US discourse on China policy is slowly but decidedly expanding on account of two factors: the increased influence of President Donald Trump in formulating it, and a growing recognition among observers, including current and former senior government officials, that the United States can only do so much to slow China’s technological progress and organise a counterbalancing coalition.  The Overton window on US policy towards China is expanding. The bad news is that one can all too easily imagine how it could close. There is an opening, then, to press for a reorientation of US policy away from a misguided objective

February 1, 2026

admin

A Frozen Farewell: DinoLand U.S.A. Faces Final “Extinction” During Record-Breaking Florida Cold Snap

A Frozen Farewell: DinoLand U.S.A. Faces Final “Extinction” During Record-Breaking Florida Cold Snap. In a poetic, if not literal, arrival of the Ice Age, DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is operating its final day today, February 1, 2026. As the sun sets tonight, the prehistoric land—a staple of the park since its opening in 1998—will close permanently to make way for the new “Tropical Americas” expansion. However, guests hoping for a final prehistoric party are being met with more than just nostalgia; they are facing one of the coldest days in Central Florida history. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is open

February 1, 2026

admin

How the U.S. Plans to Break China’s Control of Clean Energy Markets

In today’s world, geopolitics is increasingly defined not by the number of tanks or missiles a country possesses, but by who controls energy flows, critical technologies, and global supply chains. Energy has become one of the central battlegrounds in the strategic competition between the United States and China, and Washington is now pursuing a systematic, multi-layered plan to contain Beijing’s growing energy influence. This effort is not based on isolated measures but on a broad strategy that combines trade restrictions, industrial policy, alliance building, supply chain restructuring, and technological competition in clean energy. Over the past two decades, China has

February 1, 2026

admin

U.S. Coast Guard ‘in active pursuit’ of third vessel off Venezuela

The U.S. Coast Guard “is in active pursuit” of a sanctioned vessel in international waters off Venezuela, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter told NBC News. “The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order,” one of the officials said. The vessel, known as Bella 1, was placed on the U.S. sanctions list in June 2024, according to a person familiar with the list. The vessel was sanctioned under counterterrorism authority for

February 1, 2026

admin

Trump says U.S. is “in charge” of Venezuela, Maduro jailed in New York after U.S. military operation

Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the operation to capture Maduro is “clearly illegal under international law,” while pointing to broader implications. “Think of what Russia and China just learned,” Himes said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” “Russia and China just learned that all you need to do if you want to go into Estonia is to say that the leader of Estonia is a bad person. You don’t even need to make a particularly good case.”  Himes said “there’s no national security expert saying that Venezuela was a mortal threat to

February 1, 2026

admin

Millions in US brace for new cold wave and record-breaking lows

New York, Jan 30 (EFE).- Millions of people across the United States are under threat from a new cold wave set to bring record-breaking minimum temperatures to various parts of the country, particularly across the South and the East Coast, from Friday through Monday. With Americans still reeling from the havoc caused by last week’s winter storm, which has left more than 220,000 homes without power, according to Poweroutage.com, a new arctic blast is looming. This wave is expected to plunge already gélid temperatures to historic low levels, as some states prepare for additional snowfall. Even the typically warm climate