Joe Lynam

Saher Alghorra (NYT) has won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for "his haunting, sensitive series showing the devastation and starvation in Gaza"

EXCLUSIVE: Apple has held exploratory talks for Intel and Samsung to build the chips powering its devices, giving it options beyond TSMC bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

The US bond market is in serious trouble. As new reports emerge of Iranian drone attacks on the UAE's energy infrastructure, yields are surging. The 10Y Note Yield is now up to 4.45%, nearing the same level that resulted in the ceasefire and the April 2025 "90-day tariff pause." Meanwhile, the market-implied BASE CASE now shows no interest rate cuts until December 2027. There is now a 42% chance of a rate HIKE by March 2027. It appears that $5/gallon gas prices and 7%+ mortgages are on the way. The bond market needs help.

Russian forces captured 68 square miles of Ukraine last month — and it cost them 4,800 vehicles and more than 36,600 dead and wounded troops. At the current rates of advance, Russia would capture the rest of Ukraine in the year 2256 at the cost of 101 million casualties. forbes.com/sites/davidaxe…

Putin hunkers down for fear of assassination ft.trib.al/BfkacIU

European Commission pushing ahead with proposed ban on Chinese equipment (Huawei and ZTE) from telecoms networks because of potential for spying. In Ireland, Eir could be affected (and it could be expensive) as it has Huawei in its network m.independent.ie/business/techn…

В Кремле тревога из-за возможного заговора против Путина, выяснила западная разведка. Фактором дестабилизации называют Шойгу. В Кремле растет тревога из-за возможного заговора и покушения на Владимира Путина, в том числе с использованием БПЛА, сказано в отчете разведки одной из стран ЕС, к которому получили доступ журналисты CNN, Financial Times и "Важных историй". В качестве ответной меры была усилена охрана Путина, отмечается в отчете. Так, Федеральная служба охраны ужесточила проверки в администрации президента, ограничила передвижения Путина и фактически перевела его на работу из защищенных бункеров. Президент РФ больше не ездит в свои резиденции в Подмосковье и на Валдае. Также жестко контролируются сотрудники, имеющие доступ к Путину: им запретили использовать обычные телефоны и общественный транспорт, в домах поваров, фотографов и охранников установлены системы наблюдения. Бывший министр обороны Сергей Шойгу рассматривается как "потенциальный фактор дестабилизации", поскольку арест его бывшего первого заместителя Руслана Цаликова в марте 2026 года "подорвал неформальные гарантии безопасности элит", сообщается в отчете. Также отмечается, что в целом риски внутреннего конфликта выросли, фиксируется рост напряженности между силовыми структурами, они обвиняют друг друга в неудачах при защите от атак украинских спецслужб

But maybe the most striking detail to me is the level of inside access the report attests to. It gives a detailed account of a top-level meeting, convened by Putin in December, in which top security officials blamed each other for their failure to protect senior military figures from assassination. It’s simply a remarkable level of access for a Western intelligence agency, if accurate of course. You can read the IStories version here, which has the full text. (By the way, reporters have independently verified some of the information in the report, so this is not just on blind trust.) istories.media/en/stories/202…

Europe will consider all retaliatory options should US President Donald Trump follow through on his threat to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, the bloc’s finance ministers said bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Brain scans are revealing early dementia-like changes in kids and teens from heavy screen use. 60 Minutes Australia reported toddlers spending just 2–3 hours daily on devices already show abnormal white matter development. Teens averaging 6–8 hours display widened brain ridges and thinning in key areas — patterns that mirror early Alzheimer’s. Excessive screens appear to weaken neural pathways that normally strengthen through real-world movement, play, and face-to-face interaction. We’re also seeing the first IQ drops in recorded history, plus a nearly 400% rise in early-onset dementia signs among 35–44 year olds. Correlation, not proven causation — but devices are the major new variable. This is one of those reports that makes you rethink default habits. The convenience of screens is undeniable, but the potential long-term brain impacts on developing kids are hard to ignore. We may be unintentionally running a massive experiment on the next generation’s cognitive health. Are we underestimating the risks of heavy screen time, or is this concern overblown?

A new law to reverse the ban on nuclear energy in Ireland will be introduced to the Dáil by Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor, the Business Post has learned. businesspost.ie/api/oc-post/?u…

I am proud to announce my first bill with the ambition to legalise nuclear energy in Ireland. 101 years ago, Ireland broke ground on the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme. In our past we had an ambition to do what was necessary. Now we must do so again. businesspost.ie/politics/new-l…

A wall of crypto money is waiting to flood UK politics, as it did America's in 2024. It now has a vehicle: Reform UK. And Nigel Farage, who took a £5m "personal donation" from a crypto king. This isn't an insurgency: it’s a counter-elite. My column:- times-comment.com/farage123

The key trade MEP is not happy with the latest Trump threats to put 25% on cars coming into America. He had been bullied into getting it through parliament only last month

@ianbremmer Imagine how fast @DubCityCouncil would have this masterpiece removed?

loving the new banksy in london

After the Brexit referendum, Farage declared himself “skint,” saying “there’s no money in politics”. Now he has so much that he can gamble £215k in a speculative Kwasi Kwarteng startup. My column on how the crypto kings changed everything:- thetimes.com/article/4b0792…

Killarney brewery sale row as international bidder claims €5.85m offer overlooked irishexaminer.com/business/compa…

Spirit Airlines, an impish upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, announced Saturday that it has gone out of business after 34 years. apnews.com/article/spirit…