Reader Edition

Wednesday, May 13

Roza, who has mid-length brown hair and wears a cream blazer and shirt, holds a hand to her mouth and is visibly tearful as she gives evidence to the committee
PoliticsMay 13, 2026

Democrat-led hearing exploits Epstein victims for political theater

A group of House Democrats held an unofficial field hearing in Florida to parade Epstein survivors before the cameras, using the tragic case to score political points rather than pursue actual legislative reform.

A woman punches the air, while holding a placard reading "South Africa is for South Africans" during an anti-migrant march.
Foreign PolicyMay 13, 2026

Ghana Orders Emergency Evacuation of Citizens Amid South African Border Chaos

Ghana is pulling 300 of its citizens out of South Africa after widespread protests against illegal immigration turned volatile.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC, presenting a posted for "Golden Dome," a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system.
Foreign PolicyMay 13, 2026

CBO Price Tag for 'Golden Dome' Missile Defense Soars to $1.2 Trillion

A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report estimates the development and operation of the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system will reach $1.2 trillion over two decades, significantly exceeding initial White House projections.

Tuesday, May 12

Xi Jinping, China's president, left, gestures while standing next to U.S. President Donald Trump, during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, in November 2017.
Foreign PolicyMay 12, 2026

Trump Returns to Beijing to Face a More Aggressive and Assertive China

President Trump returns to China to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape defined by a more powerful, tech-focused Beijing that is actively working to challenge American global dominance.

An aerial view of leafy streets and houses with different coloured roofs
EconomyMay 12, 2026

Australian Government Targets Property Investors in Desperate Housing Fix

The Australian government is moving to limit negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts in a bid to address housing affordability, a policy shift that risks discouraging investment in the very housing supply the nation desperately nee

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a village in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel (12 May 2026)
Foreign PolicyMay 12, 2026

Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets as Terror Group Continues Aggression

Israel is conducting necessary air strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon following persistent rocket and drone attacks by the Iran-backed terror group.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni in a white shirt and white wide-brimmed hat
PoliticsMay 12, 2026

Yoweri Museveni Sworn In for Seventh Term as Uganda Solidifies Stability

President Yoweri Museveni has officially begun his seventh consecutive term in office, vowing to focus on economic growth and infrastructure while dismissing opposition claims of election interference.

A man palms his forehead in frustration while filling his truck up with gasoline.
Foreign PolicyMay 12, 2026

Bidenomics in Ruins: Inflation Spikes to 3.8% as Energy Costs Explode

Inflation has surged to 3.8% as soaring energy costs, driven by the conflict in Iran, erode the purchasing power of the American worker.

Vice-President JD Vance tours the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on March 28, 2025
Foreign PolicyMay 12, 2026

U.S. Bolsters Arctic Defenses with New Greenland Base Negotiations

The United States is engaged in high-level, productive negotiations with Denmark to establish three new military bases in southern Greenland, aimed at countering the growing influence of adversaries in the GIUK Gap.

Ursula von der Leyen introducing EU plans for children's online safety
TechMay 12, 2026

EU Bureaucrats Move to Impose Sweeping Social Media Bans on Minors

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is spearheading a push for strict social media age restrictions across the EU, aiming to implement bans and mandatory verification systems for minors.

A mother picks up her children from an elementary school in Mexico City. She is flanked by a smaller boy, who is carrying a backpack, and a bigger boy, who is carrying a bag in his hand. Other children are walking towards them.
Culture WarMay 12, 2026

Mexican Government Forced to Abandon Plan to Cut School Year Short for World Cup

The Mexican government has scrapped a proposal to end the school year over a month early, bowing to pressure from parents who refused to let the World Cup disrupt their children's academic calendar.