As the Roman territory expanded in the late republican years, the Senate became less effective, because it could not adapt to the changing requirements for government. Ultimately, its poor judgment and the rising power of the people led to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. The people rose partly because the generals began to pay the troops directly, causing a transformation from a citizen army to a professional army. Troops loyal to a power hungry commander could overthrow a government, as they did for Julius Caesar.
The United States Senate was modeled after the Roman Senate – a body of elder statesmen design to act as a brake against the whims of the people, whose interests were expressed in House of Representatives. The original plan called for senators to be elected in the same way as representatives, but this was voted down by “small” states who feared states with the largest territories could control them. The framers also feared a repeat of what happened to the Romans -- too much power by the people resulting in demagoguery -- so they put in place a system where Senators were elected by the states rather than the people.
Foundation of Roman Law – The Twelve Tables
In the beginning of the Roman Republic (509 B.C.), the law was held privately by the priests and the aristocratic class (Senate). Abuses of the plebian class were common, and it didn’t take long for the people to agitate for better rights and legal protections from these abuses. As early as 494 B.C., there was a mass demonstration and strike by workers demanding basic rights.
After decades of continuing unrest, the Senate agreed to publish the laws for all to see. Ten scholars, called Decemvirs, were designated to compile and publish the law. The result of this effort was the Twelve Tables – posted in the Forum in ~450 B.C.
"It's the first modem that has so much AI, it actually increases the range of performance of the modem so the modem can deal with weaker signals," Amon told CNBC.
"What that will do will set a huge delta between the performance of premium Android devices, and iOS devices, when you compare what Qualcomm can do versus what Apple is doing."
The iPhone 16e is Apple's cheapest smartphone on the latest range. Several reports suggest Apple is working on modems for its higher end iPhones.
Amon reiterated a statement he has made previously that he expects Qualcomm will not supply Apple with modems in 2027.
Just as Huawei is looking to dip its toe into international smartphone sales again and other Chinese players are growing quickly, Trump is back in the White House, which is likely to overshadow these companies' presence at MWC, according to Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.
"I think also unfortunately for Huawei, just as they are starting to get back on their feet, the re-emergence of Trump and his overall strategy with regards to 'America First' and placing pressure on the Chinese, not only affects Huawei, but it affects all of the Chinese manufacturers that will be at MWC," Wood told CNBC.
So far, Trump has focused on raising tariffs on Chinese imports. But there has been little action on the technology restriction front. Under the previous President Joe Biden, Washington brought in several rounds of restrictions that looked to cut off China's access to advanced technology in areas such as semiconductors.
Europe focus
Other analysts agree there is a risk of increased scrutiny but point to a couple of key reasons why other Chinese manufacturers may not be restricted the way Huawei was.
Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for data and analytics at International Data Corporation (IDC), said that the Chinese brands are focusing their efforts on Europe rather than the U.S., which could help deflect scrutiny from Washington.
Aqua Marcia – The Great Roman Aqueduct
Most people know the Romans were great engineers. The roads and buildings they built survive today as monuments to that skill. But the list of Roman engineering feats is not complete without mentioning the aqueducts, which combined beauty and functionality with engineering skill.
In the earliest days of Rome, drinking water was obtained from wells or the Tiber River, but it wasn’t long before the Tiber became polluted. To solve this problem, the Romans decided to build aqueducts to transport fresh water from mountain springs to the city. The first, named Aqua Appia, was constructed in 312 B.C., but the Aqua Marcia stands as the greatest of the Roman aqueducts.
Russia has deepened its ties with the Islamic Republic since the start of the Ukraine war, and signed a strategic cooperation treaty with Iran in January.
The Kremlin said that the subject of Iran was touched upon during Russia-U.S. talks in Saudi Arabia last month.
"It was touched upon in Riyadh," Peskov said. "But not in detail, not in detail."
Asked specifically about the Bloomberg report, Peskov said: "Look, the topic of Iran was on the agenda, it was touched upon, but at the same time, not in detail."
IRS Drafting Plans to Cut as Much as Half of Its 90K Workforce: Report
The IRS is drafting plans to cut its workforce by as much as half through a mix of layoffs, attrition and incentivized buyouts, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose the plans.
A reduction in force of tens of thousands of employees would render the IRS “dysfunctional,” said John Koskinen, a former IRS Commissioner. The federal tax collector employs roughly 90,000 workers total across the United States, according to the latest IRS data. People of color make up 56% of the IRS workforce, and women represent 65%.
Trump Honors 13-Year-Old Cancer Survivor as Secret Service Agent
President Trump introduced DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor, as the newest honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service during his address to Congress.
President Donald Trump used his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday to unveil a new member of the U.S. Secret Service — a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor named DJ.
Trump said the boy, DJ Daniel, who was dressed in a Houston police uniform and sitting with his father in the gallery of the House of Representatives for the speech, had always dreamed of becoming a police officer.
Taiwan May Buy More US Weapons, Seeks Closer Ties
Taiwan is seeking closer security ties with the United States and will look to buy more weapons from the country, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday citing a senior Taiwanese official.
I believe there is a way to have a closer security relation, unofficially, with the US," Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, François Chihchung Wu, told Bloomberg in an interview.
"In increasing our defense budget, certainly the consequence is to buy more American weapons because Europeans don't want to sell us weapons," the report added, quoting Wu as saying.
Medvedev: Russia Must Inflict 'Maximum Defeat' on Ukraine
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Russia's main goal is to inflict maximum defeat on Ukraine.
Russia's main task remains to inflict "maximum defeat" on Ukraine, former president Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
"Russia is advancing. The enemy is resisting and has not yet been defeated," said Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. "Inflicting maximum defeat on the enemy 'on the ground' remains our main task today."
Medvedev said he expected the United States to resume military aid to Ukraine, which it suspended on Monday, once Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a minerals agreement with Washington.
The dominant coin of both the Republic and the Empire was the silver Denarius, which weighed 4 oz. When the Denarius was first struck in 211 B.C., its value was,
1 ox = 10 sheep = 60 Denarius.
Roman soldiers were paid 120 Denarii per year until 50 B.C., when their pay was doubled by Julius Caesar. Some additional examples:
A cavalry horse cost 312 Denarii
A slave cost 300 Denarii
A tunic, toga, and sandals could be purchased for less than 100 Denarii.
The Denarius lasted 450 years as the most common Roman coin (211 B.C. – 243 AD).
The Republic included, in its system of government, more than one People's Assembly to vote on and pass new laws. One of these assemblies was modeled on the structure of the Army, and the Knights (members of the cavalry) became the most influential of its members. Later the Knights evolved into the Equestrian order - a third social class, above the Plebians but below the Patricians.
Roman Stoic Philosophy
Roman stoics believed defined their religious principles as Logic, Physics, and Ethics.
-Logic says we cannot know anything outside our senses.
-Physics says the world is material and knowledge comes from a sense of material things.
-Ethics says the essentail nature of human beings is reason. Virtue is life according to reason.
There are four virtures; wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance.
Wisdom is the ability to perceive what is real along with its relationships, causes, and consequences. Justice is respect for the property and rights of individuals. Courage is the ability to accept fortune for what it is. Soberness regulates the natural appetites so they are neither in excess or defect.
China Increases Defense Budget 7.2 Percent to $245 Billion
China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia.
China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia.
China's military spending remains the second largest behind the U.S. and it already has the world's largest navy.
The budget, which adds up to about $245 billion, was announced at the National People's Congress, the annual meeting of China's legislature. The Pentagon and many experts say China's total spending on defense might be 40% higher or more because of items included under other budgets.
Dem Mayors in Congress Talking Sanctuary Cities Protecting Criminal Illegals
House lawmakers will question the mayors of four of the country's largest cities Wednesday about their sanctuary city protections, which restrict local officials in helping enforce federal immigration law.
The Republicans who lead the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have long criticized such laws, as has President Donald Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House in January promising to deport more unauthorized immigrants than his predecessors.
The committee has invited the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City, all Democrats, to explain and defend the laws during a televised hearing at 10 a.m. ET.
Some mayors have defended the laws as making all their residents safer.
Even in sanctuary cities, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are free to arrest people they have cause to believe are living in the U.S. without authorization, typically a civil, not criminal, violation.
ICE has a major field office in lower Manhattan, and its officers arrest hundreds of migrants across New York City each year under both Republican and Democratic presidents.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security can deport non-citizens once an immigration judge has issued a final order of removal.
The main point of contention has been over how some cities handle what ICE calls detainer requests. ICE officials routinely ask local prison, jail or police officials to continue to detain a migrant who was free to leave custody: they have posted bail, a judge has ordered their release, or they have completed a prison sentence.
Supreme Court to Consider Nuclear Waste Storage Dispute
The Supreme Court will decide whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can license nuclear waste storage facilities, amid objections from Texas, New Mexico, and the oil industry.
The U.S. government and a company that was awarded a license by the NRC, the federal agency that regulates nuclear energy in the United States, to operate a facility in western Texas have appealed a lower court's ruling declaring this storage arrangement unlawful.
The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, showed skepticism toward the authority of federal regulatory agencies in several major rulings during former President Joe Biden's administration.
The NRC case is being argued at a time when President Donald Trump's administration has taken aim at various federal agencies in his campaign to downsize and overhaul the U.S. government and fire thousands of workers.
The U.S. government also argues that the plaintiffs lacked authority to bring the lawsuit because they failed to participate in the agency's adjudication process.
Texas and New Mexico said the NRC had no authority to issue the license, and that Congress "has already legislated a solution to the nation's nuclear-waste problem: permanent storage in Yucca Mountain."
The United States has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military's ability to target Russian forces, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials familiar with the matter.
The news came after DailyMail.com reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump had ordered allied nations to stop sharing military intelligence information with Ukraine.
"The United States' instruction to stop allies sharing U.S.-derived intelligence with Ukraine is what I would expect," U.K. military intelligence expert Phil Ingram told the Mail.
Ukraine has relied on U.S. intelligence cooperation to identify and strike Russian military targets, Financial Times reported.
Three officials confirmed the U.S. decision to freeze intelligence channels with Kyiv, the outlet reported.
Speaker Johnson: Censure Rep. Green for Speech 'Spectacle'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday night that Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, deserves to be censured for his "absolutely shameful" disruptions during President Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress.
"He should be censured," Johnson told The Hill shortly after Trump's speech ended. "It's a spectacle that was not necessary. He's made history in a terrible way, and I hope he enjoys it."
A resolution to censure Green is expected, as the board of the conservative House Freedom Caucus said before Trump's speech that it would censure any House Democrat who interrupted him.
Volvo Cars may move production of some of its models to the U.S. depending on tariffs, but aims to stick to a plan to export its European-made EX30 SUV model to the United States later this year, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
Volvo Cars last year moved production of its EX30 electric vehicles from China to Europe to avoid European Union tariffs.
The expectation President Donald Trump's return to the White House will mean more tariffs could require further adaptation.
Production of the SUV in Europe is set to begin this quarter and Volvo's plan is to increase production in the coming months to serve both the European and U.S. markets in the second half of 2025, CEO Jim Rowan told Reuters.
Exports of cars from Europe to the U.S. are only subject to a 2.5% tariff for now, but that is likely to change.
The president and members of the senate were selected by officials of each state and not by the people. In addition, those without property could not vote. The property requirement was relaxed over time so that by 1850, all white male citizens could vote. Popular vote for senators was not established until 1910.
Both of these controls were taken from the Roman republican model.
The author tells the powerful story of the Roman Centurion Manius, who survives the total defeat of his army, only to have his life changed forever as he fights to survive and return home. Manius and some of his fellow soldiers are sold into slavery and transported to the Far East by a barbarian tribe. When his companions are sold, Manius remains behind because he is crippled. A group of Chinese prisoners join him, prompting Manius to befriend them and learn their language. An opportunity for escape presents itself, driving Manius to fight for freedom, and he takes refuge in a Chinese farming village.
The farmers realize that Manius has put them under threat of attack, so they work with him to fortify the village. When the inevitable happens, the town withstands the attack, but Manius' friend, Ox, sees his daughter kidnapped. Manius and Ox set off to pursue the girl, battling the elements and their enemies in a quest for love and honor.
The strengths of this book include strong character development and the personal relationships that tie the characters together. The noncombative farmers add their strength of will to the warrior skills of Manius to become a formidable team. The reader takes a tense ride along as the hero improvises his way toward survival. The cultural fusion is engaging, and the Roman learns much from his colleagues.
There were certainly events that made an impression on the Roman people, who wrote them down and carried them through history, so Livy has some true facts to use. One example was the barbarian sack of Rome in 390 BCE. That story was well-known to all Romans. A treaty between Rome and Carthage dated 507 BCE was also verified, as was a solar eclipse in 404 BCE.
We know that Rome was originally settled by two separate groups who tended goat and cattle herds, because of the differences in their pottery. They lived in huts on the top of two of the famous Roman hills: the Palatine and the Esquiline and lived a pastoral life, which continued for a century or more until the Etruscans appeared. More on that later.
Let us review the history of the kings in chronological order. Those stories that are bolded appear to be true.
Tarquinius Priscus (616-578), the fifth king of Rome, was born in Etruria, and he introduced Etruscan customs and influences to Rome. Around this time, Roman pottery began to change under Etruscan influence and inscriptions exist in Rome that refer to the Tarquin family. We know that the Forum was drained in around 620 BCE, probably by Tarquinius. A new sewer was constructed to keep the Forum dry, and the contractors used Etruscan construction methods. Tarquinius is credited with creating the first Roman assembly (Curate). He may also have constructed the Temple of Vesta and the royal palace. Tarquinius introduced the Etruscan traditions of divination and augury (predicting the future). Lastly, he is credited with creating the three tribes, Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres, who later became the patrician class.
Tarquinius Superbus (535-510), also known as Tarquin the Proud, was the seventh king of Rome, and son of Tarquinius Priscus. Tarquinius Superbus is notorious for his despotic rule. He disregarded the rights of the Roman people and governed as a tyrant. Superbus consolidated power by suppressing political dissent and implemented a system of brutal repression. In 510 BCE, a revolt against the tyrant resulted in the overthrow of the king and the entire monarchy, marking the establishment of the Roman Republic.
The republic replaced the king with a new magistrate called the consul. Two consul positions were created, with veto power over each other, so neither could try and take control of the republic. Brutus was named the first consul of the new Republic along with Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus.
The Republic was launched in 509 BCE with a new political system, which included the Senate, people’s assembly, and two consuls. This was 250 years after the founding of the city, but few details from this period can be confirmed. We know that in 494 BCE, the Plebeians revolted, forcing the government to create a new magistrate position, the tribune, who would represent the plebeians. Later, in about 450 BCE, the plebeians forced the government to write down the laws of Rome (The Twelve Tables) and display them in the Forum for all to see.
The Romans went to war with the Etruscans in 405 BCE and it took them 10 years to capture the city of Veii. After many wars over many decades, the Romans defeated the Etruscans for the final time in 280 BCE, and absorbed Etruria into the republic.
What is surprising, though, is the overthrow of the kings and the establishment of the republic. The Latin people who occupied the geography in and around the city of Rome, were a unique people, who believed in themselves and were dedicated to building a political system that involved the people. Rome was one of few republics in history and probably unique in the ancient world.
Its people were hardworking, with an uncommon engineering sense, that drove them to build bridges, aqueducts, roads, and buildings, unlike any other civilization in ancient times. The Romans were not thinkers like the Greeks. They were doers. Of all the tribes and societies in Italy, or for that matter all of Europe, only the Romans possessed the skills and motivation to organize their world and set an example for all time.
CBS Poll: 76 Percent Approve of Trump's Address to Congress
Viewers overwhelmingly approved of what President Donald Trump said in his speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, according to a CBS News survey.
Trump boasted about the many accomplishments since being inaugurated Jan. 20 and exclaimed "we are just getting started."
A whopping 76% of those watching said they approved of Trump's first second-term speech to Congress, CBS News survey results showed Wednesday.
"Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions to restore common sense, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land. The people elected me to do the job, and I am doing it. In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation."
The viewership was heavily Republican, CBS News reported. Historically, a president's party draws more viewers to a State of the Union or speech before Congress.
This CBS News survey was based on 1,207 interviews of adults who watched the president's address to Congress on Tuesday night.
2 Nurses Charged With Threatening Israeli Patients
Australian police in New South Wales charged two nurses with threatening patients after the discovery of a viral video in which one claimed to have killed Israeli patients.
One of the two nurses was charged last week and the other was charged Tuesday. Both were removed from their hospital jobs last month, according to the Times of Israel.
“Detectives have overcome many challenges, including huge public expectation to put these individuals before the court,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said, according to the Times.
How much do we really know about Minoan culture? How much is creative imagination?
Guest post by Giota Detsi
Truth be told, we have a lot of unanswered questions about the Minoans (Were they really called that, for instance?). However, the popularity of this civilization has led to the creation of false stereotypes. In our search for the truth from myths (and assumptions!) our assistants will be the usual; archaeological finds, anthropology, genetics, Greek myths, and ancient texts.
Truth be told, we have a lot of unanswered questions about the Minoans (Were they really called that, for instance?). However, the popularity of this civilization has led to the creation of false stereotypes. In our search for the truth from myths (and assumptions!) our assistants will be the usual; archaeological finds, anthropology, genetics, Greek myths, and ancient texts.
Let’s sum it up till now; the Minoans are (for sure) olive skin and dark-haired people, travelers, merchants, craftsmen, and probably primitive scientists. This was the easy part, as all the above facts came directly from excavation findings or lab analysis.
The discussion of topics such as the Minoan regime, religion, and society are tricky, because the lack of written texts and references can’t be replaced by archaeology.
However, there are two commonly believed assumptions that archaeology has debunked.
Evans was a skilled archaeologist, applied pioneer methods, and did remarkable, monumental work on Crete and was the single most influential person to have shaped modern understanding of the Minoan civilization. Why did he disguise the truth? The explanation has a political origin. The discovery of the warlike Mycenaean world by an amateur archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, launched the prehistoric Aegean to take center stage.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mediterranean and Balkans were ravaged by conflict between the weakening Ottoman Empire and subject nations struggling to gain independence. Sir Arthur had already experienced first-hand the terrible ethnically- and religiously-driven conflict in the Balkans, and again on Crete, and hoped his excavation at Knossos could reveal the oldest European civilization to be a place of peace and unity.
This is Crete, a mountainous island of ~8,500 km2 in the middle of the Eastern Mediterranean.
It lies within the uplifted fore-arc section of the Hellenic subduction margin. In simple words, it is exactly where the African oceanic plate runs into and slides beneath the continental Eurasian one. As a result, it is the most seismically active region of Europe, the island is literally trembling, a fact that the Minoans took seriously during construction. Their anti-seismic constructions were ahead of their contemporaries.
When the anti-seismic skills were not enough, the Minoans asked their deities for protection, offering them the ultimate sacrifice, human lives!
Those were the Minoans…bright and dark, victims and killers. More than a hundred years after they entered the world of history, emerging from mythology, they still keep a lot of secrets and surprises from us. This only makes them even more fascinating….
As the Roman territory expanded in the late republican years, the Senate became less effective, because it could not adapt to the changing requirements for government. Ultimately, its poor judgment and the rising power of the people led to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. The people rose partly because the generals began to pay the troops directly, causing a transformation from a citizen army to a professional army. Troops loyal to a power hungry commander could overthrow a government, as they did for Julius Caesar.
The United States Senate was modeled after the Roman Senate – a body of elder statesmen design to act as a brake against the whims of the people, whose interests were expressed in House of Representatives. The original plan called for senators to be elected in the same way as representatives, but this was voted down by “small” states who feared states with the largest territories could control them. The framers also feared a repeat of what happened to the Romans -- too much power by the people resulting in demagoguery -- so they put in place a system where Senators were elected by the states rather than the people.
Foundation of Roman Law – The Twelve Tables
In the beginning of the Roman Republic (509 B.C.), the law was held privately by the priests and the aristocratic class (Senate). Abuses of the plebian class were common, and it didn’t take long for the people to agitate for better rights and legal protections from these abuses. As early as 494 B.C., there was a mass demonstration and strike by workers demanding basic rights.
After decades of continuing unrest, the Senate agreed to publish the laws for all to see. Ten scholars, called Decemvirs, were designated to compile and publish the law. The result of this effort was the Twelve Tables – posted in the Forum in ~450 B.C.
"It's the first modem that has so much AI, it actually increases the range of performance of the modem so the modem can deal with weaker signals," Amon told CNBC.
"What that will do will set a huge delta between the performance of premium Android devices, and iOS devices, when you compare what Qualcomm can do versus what Apple is doing."
The iPhone 16e is Apple's cheapest smartphone on the latest range. Several reports suggest Apple is working on modems for its higher end iPhones.
Amon reiterated a statement he has made previously that he expects Qualcomm will not supply Apple with modems in 2027.
Just as Huawei is looking to dip its toe into international smartphone sales again and other Chinese players are growing quickly, Trump is back in the White House, which is likely to overshadow these companies' presence at MWC, according to Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.
"I think also unfortunately for Huawei, just as they are starting to get back on their feet, the re-emergence of Trump and his overall strategy with regards to 'America First' and placing pressure on the Chinese, not only affects Huawei, but it affects all of the Chinese manufacturers that will be at MWC," Wood told CNBC.
So far, Trump has focused on raising tariffs on Chinese imports. But there has been little action on the technology restriction front. Under the previous President Joe Biden, Washington brought in several rounds of restrictions that looked to cut off China's access to advanced technology in areas such as semiconductors.
Europe focus
Other analysts agree there is a risk of increased scrutiny but point to a couple of key reasons why other Chinese manufacturers may not be restricted the way Huawei was.
Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for data and analytics at International Data Corporation (IDC), said that the Chinese brands are focusing their efforts on Europe rather than the U.S., which could help deflect scrutiny from Washington.
Aqua Marcia – The Great Roman Aqueduct
Most people know the Romans were great engineers. The roads and buildings they built survive today as monuments to that skill. But the list of Roman engineering feats is not complete without mentioning the aqueducts, which combined beauty and functionality with engineering skill.
In the earliest days of Rome, drinking water was obtained from wells or the Tiber River, but it wasn’t long before the Tiber became polluted. To solve this problem, the Romans decided to build aqueducts to transport fresh water from mountain springs to the city. The first, named Aqua Appia, was constructed in 312 B.C., but the Aqua Marcia stands as the greatest of the Roman aqueducts.
Russia has deepened its ties with the Islamic Republic since the start of the Ukraine war, and signed a strategic cooperation treaty with Iran in January.
The Kremlin said that the subject of Iran was touched upon during Russia-U.S. talks in Saudi Arabia last month.
"It was touched upon in Riyadh," Peskov said. "But not in detail, not in detail."
Asked specifically about the Bloomberg report, Peskov said: "Look, the topic of Iran was on the agenda, it was touched upon, but at the same time, not in detail."
IRS Drafting Plans to Cut as Much as Half of Its 90K Workforce: Report
The IRS is drafting plans to cut its workforce by as much as half through a mix of layoffs, attrition and incentivized buyouts, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose the plans.
A reduction in force of tens of thousands of employees would render the IRS “dysfunctional,” said John Koskinen, a former IRS Commissioner. The federal tax collector employs roughly 90,000 workers total across the United States, according to the latest IRS data. People of color make up 56% of the IRS workforce, and women represent 65%.
Trump Honors 13-Year-Old Cancer Survivor as Secret Service Agent
President Trump introduced DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor, as the newest honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service during his address to Congress.
President Donald Trump used his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday to unveil a new member of the U.S. Secret Service — a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor named DJ.
Trump said the boy, DJ Daniel, who was dressed in a Houston police uniform and sitting with his father in the gallery of the House of Representatives for the speech, had always dreamed of becoming a police officer.
Taiwan May Buy More US Weapons, Seeks Closer Ties
Taiwan is seeking closer security ties with the United States and will look to buy more weapons from the country, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday citing a senior Taiwanese official.
I believe there is a way to have a closer security relation, unofficially, with the US," Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, François Chihchung Wu, told Bloomberg in an interview.
"In increasing our defense budget, certainly the consequence is to buy more American weapons because Europeans don't want to sell us weapons," the report added, quoting Wu as saying.
Medvedev: Russia Must Inflict 'Maximum Defeat' on Ukraine
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Russia's main goal is to inflict maximum defeat on Ukraine.
Russia's main task remains to inflict "maximum defeat" on Ukraine, former president Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
"Russia is advancing. The enemy is resisting and has not yet been defeated," said Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. "Inflicting maximum defeat on the enemy 'on the ground' remains our main task today."
Medvedev said he expected the United States to resume military aid to Ukraine, which it suspended on Monday, once Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a minerals agreement with Washington.
The dominant coin of both the Republic and the Empire was the silver Denarius, which weighed 4 oz. When the Denarius was first struck in 211 B.C., its value was,
1 ox = 10 sheep = 60 Denarius.
Roman soldiers were paid 120 Denarii per year until 50 B.C., when their pay was doubled by Julius Caesar. Some additional examples:
A cavalry horse cost 312 Denarii
A slave cost 300 Denarii
A tunic, toga, and sandals could be purchased for less than 100 Denarii.
The Denarius lasted 450 years as the most common Roman coin (211 B.C. – 243 AD).
The Republic included, in its system of government, more than one People's Assembly to vote on and pass new laws. One of these assemblies was modeled on the structure of the Army, and the Knights (members of the cavalry) became the most influential of its members. Later the Knights evolved into the Equestrian order - a third social class, above the Plebians but below the Patricians.
Roman Stoic Philosophy
Roman stoics believed defined their religious principles as Logic, Physics, and Ethics.
-Logic says we cannot know anything outside our senses.
-Physics says the world is material and knowledge comes from a sense of material things.
-Ethics says the essentail nature of human beings is reason. Virtue is life according to reason.
There are four virtures; wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance.
Wisdom is the ability to perceive what is real along with its relationships, causes, and consequences. Justice is respect for the property and rights of individuals. Courage is the ability to accept fortune for what it is. Soberness regulates the natural appetites so they are neither in excess or defect.
China Increases Defense Budget 7.2 Percent to $245 Billion
China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia.
China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia.
China's military spending remains the second largest behind the U.S. and it already has the world's largest navy.
The budget, which adds up to about $245 billion, was announced at the National People's Congress, the annual meeting of China's legislature. The Pentagon and many experts say China's total spending on defense might be 40% higher or more because of items included under other budgets.
Dem Mayors in Congress Talking Sanctuary Cities Protecting Criminal Illegals
House lawmakers will question the mayors of four of the country's largest cities Wednesday about their sanctuary city protections, which restrict local officials in helping enforce federal immigration law.
The Republicans who lead the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have long criticized such laws, as has President Donald Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House in January promising to deport more unauthorized immigrants than his predecessors.
The committee has invited the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City, all Democrats, to explain and defend the laws during a televised hearing at 10 a.m. ET.
Some mayors have defended the laws as making all their residents safer.
Even in sanctuary cities, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are free to arrest people they have cause to believe are living in the U.S. without authorization, typically a civil, not criminal, violation.
ICE has a major field office in lower Manhattan, and its officers arrest hundreds of migrants across New York City each year under both Republican and Democratic presidents.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security can deport non-citizens once an immigration judge has issued a final order of removal.
The main point of contention has been over how some cities handle what ICE calls detainer requests. ICE officials routinely ask local prison, jail or police officials to continue to detain a migrant who was free to leave custody: they have posted bail, a judge has ordered their release, or they have completed a prison sentence.
Supreme Court to Consider Nuclear Waste Storage Dispute
The Supreme Court will decide whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can license nuclear waste storage facilities, amid objections from Texas, New Mexico, and the oil industry.
The U.S. government and a company that was awarded a license by the NRC, the federal agency that regulates nuclear energy in the United States, to operate a facility in western Texas have appealed a lower court's ruling declaring this storage arrangement unlawful.
The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, showed skepticism toward the authority of federal regulatory agencies in several major rulings during former President Joe Biden's administration.
The NRC case is being argued at a time when President Donald Trump's administration has taken aim at various federal agencies in his campaign to downsize and overhaul the U.S. government and fire thousands of workers.
The U.S. government also argues that the plaintiffs lacked authority to bring the lawsuit because they failed to participate in the agency's adjudication process.
Texas and New Mexico said the NRC had no authority to issue the license, and that Congress "has already legislated a solution to the nation's nuclear-waste problem: permanent storage in Yucca Mountain."
FT: US Cuts Off Intel Sharing With Ukraine
The United States has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military's ability to target Russian forces, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials familiar with the matter.
The news came after DailyMail.com reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump had ordered allied nations to stop sharing military intelligence information with Ukraine.
"The United States' instruction to stop allies sharing U.S.-derived intelligence with Ukraine is what I would expect," U.K. military intelligence expert Phil Ingram told the Mail.
Ukraine has relied on U.S. intelligence cooperation to identify and strike Russian military targets, Financial Times reported.
Three officials confirmed the U.S. decision to freeze intelligence channels with Kyiv, the outlet reported.
Speaker Johnson: Censure Rep. Green for Speech 'Spectacle'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday night that Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, deserves to be censured for his "absolutely shameful" disruptions during President Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress.
"He should be censured," Johnson told The Hill shortly after Trump's speech ended. "It's a spectacle that was not necessary. He's made history in a terrible way, and I hope he enjoys it."
A resolution to censure Green is expected, as the board of the conservative House Freedom Caucus said before Trump's speech that it would censure any House Democrat who interrupted him.
Volvo May Make Some Cars in US to Avoid Tariffs
Volvo Cars may move production of some of its models to the U.S. depending on tariffs, but aims to stick to a plan to export its European-made EX30 SUV model to the United States later this year, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
Volvo Cars last year moved production of its EX30 electric vehicles from China to Europe to avoid European Union tariffs.
The expectation President Donald Trump's return to the White House will mean more tariffs could require further adaptation.
Production of the SUV in Europe is set to begin this quarter and Volvo's plan is to increase production in the coming months to serve both the European and U.S. markets in the second half of 2025, CEO Jim Rowan told Reuters.
Exports of cars from Europe to the U.S. are only subject to a 2.5% tariff for now, but that is likely to change.
The president and members of the senate were selected by officials of each state and not by the people. In addition, those without property could not vote. The property requirement was relaxed over time so that by 1850, all white male citizens could vote. Popular vote for senators was not established until 1910.
Both of these controls were taken from the Roman republican model.
The author tells the powerful story of the Roman Centurion Manius, who survives the total defeat of his army, only to have his life changed forever as he fights to survive and return home. Manius and some of his fellow soldiers are sold into slavery and transported to the Far East by a barbarian tribe. When his companions are sold, Manius remains behind because he is crippled. A group of Chinese prisoners join him, prompting Manius to befriend them and learn their language. An opportunity for escape presents itself, driving Manius to fight for freedom, and he takes refuge in a Chinese farming village.
The farmers realize that Manius has put them under threat of attack, so they work with him to fortify the village. When the inevitable happens, the town withstands the attack, but Manius' friend, Ox, sees his daughter kidnapped. Manius and Ox set off to pursue the girl, battling the elements and their enemies in a quest for love and honor.
The strengths of this book include strong character development and the personal relationships that tie the characters together. The noncombative farmers add their strength of will to the warrior skills of Manius to become a formidable team. The reader takes a tense ride along as the hero improvises his way toward survival. The cultural fusion is engaging, and the Roman learns much from his colleagues.
There were certainly events that made an impression on the Roman people, who wrote them down and carried them through history, so Livy has some true facts to use. One example was the barbarian sack of Rome in 390 BCE. That story was well-known to all Romans. A treaty between Rome and Carthage dated 507 BCE was also verified, as was a solar eclipse in 404 BCE.
We know that Rome was originally settled by two separate groups who tended goat and cattle herds, because of the differences in their pottery. They lived in huts on the top of two of the famous Roman hills: the Palatine and the Esquiline and lived a pastoral life, which continued for a century or more until the Etruscans appeared. More on that later.
Let us review the history of the kings in chronological order. Those stories that are bolded appear to be true.
The republic replaced the king with a new magistrate called the consul. Two consul positions were created, with veto power over each other, so neither could try and take control of the republic. Brutus was named the first consul of the new Republic along with Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus.
After the kings
The Republic was launched in 509 BCE with a new political system, which included the Senate, people’s assembly, and two consuls. This was 250 years after the founding of the city, but few details from this period can be confirmed. We know that in 494 BCE, the Plebeians revolted, forcing the government to create a new magistrate position, the tribune, who would represent the plebeians. Later, in about 450 BCE, the plebeians forced the government to write down the laws of Rome (The Twelve Tables) and display them in the Forum for all to see.
The Romans went to war with the Etruscans in 405 BCE and it took them 10 years to capture the city of Veii. After many wars over many decades, the Romans defeated the Etruscans for the final time in 280 BCE, and absorbed Etruria into the republic.
What is surprising, though, is the overthrow of the kings and the establishment of the republic. The Latin people who occupied the geography in and around the city of Rome, were a unique people, who believed in themselves and were dedicated to building a political system that involved the people. Rome was one of few republics in history and probably unique in the ancient world.
Its people were hardworking, with an uncommon engineering sense, that drove them to build bridges, aqueducts, roads, and buildings, unlike any other civilization in ancient times. The Romans were not thinkers like the Greeks. They were doers. Of all the tribes and societies in Italy, or for that matter all of Europe, only the Romans possessed the skills and motivation to organize their world and set an example for all time.
CBS Poll: 76 Percent Approve of Trump's Address to Congress
Viewers overwhelmingly approved of what President Donald Trump said in his speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, according to a CBS News survey.
Trump boasted about the many accomplishments since being inaugurated Jan. 20 and exclaimed "we are just getting started."
A whopping 76% of those watching said they approved of Trump's first second-term speech to Congress, CBS News survey results showed Wednesday.
"Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions to restore common sense, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land. The people elected me to do the job, and I am doing it. In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation."
The viewership was heavily Republican, CBS News reported. Historically, a president's party draws more viewers to a State of the Union or speech before Congress.
This CBS News survey was based on 1,207 interviews of adults who watched the president's address to Congress on Tuesday night.
2 Nurses Charged With Threatening Israeli Patients
Australian police in New South Wales charged two nurses with threatening patients after the discovery of a viral video in which one claimed to have killed Israeli patients.
One of the two nurses was charged last week and the other was charged Tuesday. Both were removed from their hospital jobs last month, according to the Times of Israel.
“Detectives have overcome many challenges, including huge public expectation to put these individuals before the court,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said, according to the Times.
How much do we really know about Minoan culture? How much is creative imagination?
Guest post by Giota Detsi
Truth be told, we have a lot of unanswered questions about the Minoans (Were they really called that, for instance?). However, the popularity of this civilization has led to the creation of false stereotypes. In our search for the truth from myths (and assumptions!) our assistants will be the usual; archaeological finds, anthropology, genetics, Greek myths, and ancient texts.
Truth be told, we have a lot of unanswered questions about the Minoans (Were they really called that, for instance?). However, the popularity of this civilization has led to the creation of false stereotypes. In our search for the truth from myths (and assumptions!) our assistants will be the usual; archaeological finds, anthropology, genetics, Greek myths, and ancient texts.
Let’s sum it up till now; the Minoans are (for sure) olive skin and dark-haired people, travelers, merchants, craftsmen, and probably primitive scientists. This was the easy part, as all the above facts came directly from excavation findings or lab analysis.
The discussion of topics such as the Minoan regime, religion, and society are tricky, because the lack of written texts and references can’t be replaced by archaeology.
However, there are two commonly believed assumptions that archaeology has debunked.
Evans was a skilled archaeologist, applied pioneer methods, and did remarkable, monumental work on Crete and was the single most influential person to have shaped modern understanding of the Minoan civilization. Why did he disguise the truth? The explanation has a political origin. The discovery of the warlike Mycenaean world by an amateur archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, launched the prehistoric Aegean to take center stage.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mediterranean and Balkans were ravaged by conflict between the weakening Ottoman Empire and subject nations struggling to gain independence. Sir Arthur had already experienced first-hand the terrible ethnically- and religiously-driven conflict in the Balkans, and again on Crete, and hoped his excavation at Knossos could reveal the oldest European civilization to be a place of peace and unity.
This is Crete, a mountainous island of ~8,500 km2 in the middle of the Eastern Mediterranean.
It lies within the uplifted fore-arc section of the Hellenic subduction margin. In simple words, it is exactly where the African oceanic plate runs into and slides beneath the continental Eurasian one. As a result, it is the most seismically active region of Europe, the island is literally trembling, a fact that the Minoans took seriously during construction. Their anti-seismic constructions were ahead of their contemporaries.
When the anti-seismic skills were not enough, the Minoans asked their deities for protection, offering them the ultimate sacrifice, human lives!
Those were the Minoans…bright and dark, victims and killers. More than a hundred years after they entered the world of history, emerging from mythology, they still keep a lot of secrets and surprises from us. This only makes them even more fascinating….