Larry Lee
The Latest
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Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Police Response Faces Scrutiny After 20-Minute Rampage
A father-and-son terrorist attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach killed 15 people and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 14, 2025, triggering nationwide mourning and an escalating backlash over how police responded during the 20-minute shooting. Authorities have identified the attackers as Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, and confirmed the assault was a targeted antisemitic act. 
A father-and-son terrorist attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach killed 15 people and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 14, 2025, triggering nationwide mourning and an escalating backlash over how police responded during the 20-minute shooting. Authorities have identified the attackers as Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, and confirmed the assault was a targeted antisemitic act. -
Kim Jong Un Praises North Korean Troops After 120-Day Russia Mission, Admits Mine-Clearing Role in Kursk
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly honored an army engineering regiment returning from Russia, praising what state media described as "heroic" service during a 120-day overseas deployment that included combat engineering and landmine-clearing tasks in Russia's Kursk region. The ceremony in Pyongyang marked one of the clearest acknowledgments yet by the North of its troops' direct involvement alongside Russian forces in the war with Ukraine. 
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly honored an army engineering regiment returning from Russia, praising what state media described as "heroic" service during a 120-day overseas deployment that included combat engineering and landmine-clearing tasks in Russia's Kursk region. The ceremony in Pyongyang marked one of the clearest acknowledgments yet by the North of its troops' direct involvement alongside Russian forces in the war with Ukraine. -
Pope Leo XIV Calls Trump’s Ukraine Plan 'Unrealistic,' Warns Peace Impossible Without Europe
Pope Leo XIV issued one of the strongest rebukes yet to U.S.-led Ukraine peace efforts, warning that President Donald Trump's push for a settlement that excludes European governments is "unrealistic." The statement followed his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Castel Gandolfo, and immediately raised questions across European capitals about the viability of any deal negotiated without the continent most directly affected by the conflict. 
Pope Leo XIV issued one of the strongest rebukes yet to U.S.-led Ukraine peace efforts, warning that President Donald Trump's push for a settlement that excludes European governments is "unrealistic." The statement followed his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Castel Gandolfo, and immediately raised questions across European capitals about the viability of any deal negotiated without the continent most directly affected by the conflict. -
Japan’s 7.5 Quake Sparks Online Frenzy as Viral Manga ‘Prediction’ of 2025 Mega-Tsunami Resurfaces
A magnitude-7.5 earthquake off Japan's northeastern coast triggered tsunami warnings and disrupted transportation late on Dec. 8, but the limited physical impact was quickly overshadowed online by a resurfacing claim that a decades-old manga predicted a catastrophic 2025 mega-tsunami. The viral posts, many of which circulated on X and Reddit, revived fears detached from the actual seismic event, prompting seismologists to urge the public to depend on official data rather than digitally altered images. 
A magnitude-7.5 earthquake off Japan's northeastern coast triggered tsunami warnings and disrupted transportation late on Dec. 8, but the limited physical impact was quickly overshadowed online by a resurfacing claim that a decades-old manga predicted a catastrophic 2025 mega-tsunami. The viral posts, many of which circulated on X and Reddit, revived fears detached from the actual seismic event, prompting seismologists to urge the public to depend on official data rather than digitally altered images. -
UK Health Officials Probe New Mpox Variant After Traveler Brings Recombinant Strain From Asia
A newly identified mpox strain detected in England has triggered a rapid review by British health authorities as scientists examine whether the recombinant virus could circulate more quietly than previous variants. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed the case in a traveler returning from Asia, marking the first time England has recorded a strain that merges genetic material from two separate mpox lineages. The discovery arrives as countries continue to expand genomic surveillance following the global mpox outbreak that spread across multiple continents in 2022 and 2023. 
A newly identified mpox strain detected in England has triggered a rapid review by British health authorities as scientists examine whether the recombinant virus could circulate more quietly than previous variants. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed the case in a traveler returning from Asia, marking the first time England has recorded a strain that merges genetic material from two separate mpox lineages. The discovery arrives as countries continue to expand genomic surveillance following the global mpox outbreak that spread across multiple continents in 2022 and 2023. -
Putin Claims Successful Test of Poseidon Nuclear Torpedo, Escalating Fears of Undersea Arms Race
Russia's announcement that it successfully activated the nuclear propulsion system of its Poseidon underwater drone has intensified geopolitical tensions and revived debates over the future of strategic deterrence. President Vladimir Putin declared on Oct. 29, 2025, that the torpedo-described as both nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed-had been launched from a submarine and travelled under autonomous control, claiming there is "nothing like this, nothing able to intercept it." 
Russia's announcement that it successfully activated the nuclear propulsion system of its Poseidon underwater drone has intensified geopolitical tensions and revived debates over the future of strategic deterrence. President Vladimir Putin declared on Oct. 29, 2025, that the torpedo-described as both nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed-had been launched from a submarine and travelled under autonomous control, claiming there is "nothing like this, nothing able to intercept it." -
Russia Fires Massive Drones and Missiles as Trump-Backed Peace Talks Press Forward in Florida
Russia's military conducted one of its largest combined drone-and-missile assaults of the year on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, striking energy sites, rail facilities and civilian areas as U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials continued high-stakes negotiations in Florida and Moscow over a potential U.S.-mediated settlement to the nearly four-year war. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering nationwide sirens as far west as Lviv, while simultaneous air-raid warnings echoed across eastern Poland. 
Russia's military conducted one of its largest combined drone-and-missile assaults of the year on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, striking energy sites, rail facilities and civilian areas as U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials continued high-stakes negotiations in Florida and Moscow over a potential U.S.-mediated settlement to the nearly four-year war. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering nationwide sirens as far west as Lviv, while simultaneous air-raid warnings echoed across eastern Poland. -
Leak Reveals Macron Warned Zelenskyy U.S. May ‘Betray’ Ukraine as Europe Braces for Trump-Led Talks
European leaders privately expressed concern that the United States could force Ukraine into territorial concessions in ongoing peace negotiations, according to a leaked summary of a call reported by Germany's Der Spiegel. French President Emmanuel Macron was quoted as warning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "there is a possibility that the U.S. will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees." 
European leaders privately expressed concern that the United States could force Ukraine into territorial concessions in ongoing peace negotiations, according to a leaked summary of a call reported by Germany's Der Spiegel. French President Emmanuel Macron was quoted as warning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "there is a possibility that the U.S. will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees." -
Putin Warns Europe: 'If You Start a War, Russia Is Ready Now' as NATO Sounds Alarm for 2029 Threat
Russia's confrontation with Europe escalated sharply on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow is prepared to fight immediately if European governments initiate a conflict, framing Western support for Ukraine as evidence that Europe is now "on the side of war." Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin said that if Europe "starts a war," then Russia is "ready right now," a message that arrives amid heightened warnings from NATO members that Moscow is preparing long-term military options against the alliance. 
Russia's confrontation with Europe escalated sharply on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow is prepared to fight immediately if European governments initiate a conflict, framing Western support for Ukraine as evidence that Europe is now "on the side of war." Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin said that if Europe "starts a war," then Russia is "ready right now," a message that arrives amid heightened warnings from NATO members that Moscow is preparing long-term military options against the alliance. -
Garry Kasparov Accuses Trump Network of Pushing Plans That Would ‘Sell Ukraine’ as U.S. Debate Deepens
Garry Kasparov issued one of his starkest warnings yet about U.S. politics and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, arguing that allies of President Donald Trump are treating the war as a commercial opportunity rather than a national-security crisis. Speaking before diplomats and defence officials at the Halifax International Security Forum, Kasparov said political actors in Trump's orbit were promoting proposals that would "sell Ukraine" and frame the conflict as a private transaction instead of a decisive battle over European security. 
Garry Kasparov issued one of his starkest warnings yet about U.S. politics and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, arguing that allies of President Donald Trump are treating the war as a commercial opportunity rather than a national-security crisis. Speaking before diplomats and defence officials at the Halifax International Security Forum, Kasparov said political actors in Trump's orbit were promoting proposals that would "sell Ukraine" and frame the conflict as a private transaction instead of a decisive battle over European security.
