In a few short days, Iran hijacked a Honduras-flagged floating armory run by the Chinese military, sank an Indian-flagged cargo ship, and dropped a drone perilously close to a UAE nuclear power plant. Does anyone really doubt that Iran cannot get the bomb? The Chinese-run floating armory. On May 14, 2026, Iranian military personnel seized a vessel identified as a “floating armory” in the Gulf of Oman. The floating armory contains weapons used to fight pirates. The Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan was operated by Chinese private military contractors to protect ships from pirates. The Hui Chuan (also reported as Houi Chan or Huchuan) is a 57-meter vessel flying the Honduras flag. It operates as a “floating armory,” a mobile storage hub for weapons and ammunition used by private maritime security firms to protect commercial ships from piracy. The boarding occurred approximately 70 km (40 miles) northeast of Fujairah, UAE. All aboard are safe and rescued. The ship is currently headed for Iran’s territorial waters. Asghar Jahangiri, Iran’s judiciary spokesman, told PressTV. Iran: “Iranian naval forces have acted “fully in accordance with domestic and international law,” insisting that the seizures are based on “firm and definitive” rulings issued by competent Iranian courts after due legal process. He said documentation of violations committed by the tankers “will be sent to the American side,” adding that US military forces, particularly the United States Central Command, “constantly violate international law through piracy across the Persian Gulf. ”” “Iranian naval forces have acted “fully in accordance with domestic and international law,” insisting that the seizures are based on “firm and definitive” rulings issued by competent Iranian courts after due legal process. He said documentation Iran attacked an Indian-flagged ship and bombed near the U.A.E. power plant On the same day as the seizure, an Indian-flagged cargo ship, the Haji Ali, was attacked. It subsequently sank off the coast of Oman. The seizure coincided with a summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders emphasized the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Iran bombed near a power plant in the U.A.E. There were no radiation leaks. Iran is threatening the U.A.E. if it keeps working with the United States. “If the UAE continues cooperating with the US and Israel against us, we will confront them more forcefully,” Esmail Kowsari, a member of Iran’s parliament national security and foreign policy committee, said on Sunday.https://t.co/g70YP20M5A pic.twitter.com/fSEw0HfUaN — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) May 17, 2026 Fighting abroad, fighting at home. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is headed for the G7. He hopes to convince them to sanction Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday he would urge G7 finance ministers to follow a sanctions regime aimed at cutting off funding to what he described as Iran’s “war machine.” pic.twitter.com/FgAaTj38tn — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) May 18, 2026 The Wells are Overflowing As an Iranian inside Iran, I will explain the oil situation: Look at this. Iranian oil literally overflowing, gushing into the ground like a broken sewer — because the Islamic Republic can’t sell a single barrel. The US naval blockade has them completely strangled. No buyers.… pic.twitter.com/x1G3UKZPRM — Siaxares سیاکسارِس (@siaxares) May 16, 2026 The post Iran Hijacked a Floating Armory Run by Chinese Military appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

The following must-sees are presented as three X posts. The U.S. Senate will consider the impeachment of radical Judge Boasberg for his role in the targeting and spying of Republican senators. Please consider the wisdom of having only the farthest-left professors hold faculty positions in our universities. Lastly, Pete Buttigieg is lying to Americans about the Electoral College. The Senate will consider impeaching rogue Judge James Boasberg this week. He refuses to testify on his own behalf. On November 4, 2025, articles of impeachment were filed against Judge Boasberg for his role in Operation Arctic Frost, the Biden administration’s effort to target and spy on sitting Republican senators and conservative organizations, including the Republican Attorneys General Association, during Senator Schmitt’s tenure as chairman during his time as Missouri’s attorney general. Additionally, Judge Boasberg is accused of improperly using his role as chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to assign himself J.G.G. v. Trump, a case that the Supreme Court later found he lacked jurisdiction to handle. BREAKING: The Senate is considering IMPEACHMENT of Rogue Judge James Boasberg this week. Boasberg has REFUSED to testify. The Judiciary Committee will hold a “hearing” on “holding rogue judges accountable.” This traitor must be kicked out of office ASAP! pic.twitter.com/nbGaJ8GErZ — War Correspondent (@warDaniel47) May 18, 2026 2. The Proof and the Explanation for the Decline of Our Universities. This is why our universities have gone woke and are indoctrinating our youth. “Not only have conservatives become vanishingly rare in academia, but so have centrists. That’s how complete the left’s dominance is: Even moderates are now a fringe group in academia.” True https://t.co/82gBZNh2Pk — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2026 3. Believe Them When They Lie to You Pete Buttigieg, who dreams of becoming president, wants to eliminate the Electoral College. If we went by the most votes, as he suggests, only the most populous states would matter. No one would ever again campaign in Wyoming or Delaware. Very few states would matter, and the most heavily populated states are largely far-left and deep blue. Additionally, this destroys a foundational element of the Constitution: giving small states a voice in how their federal government is run. Buttigieg, son of a famous communist professor, knows this. He was a Rhodes Scholar. He is deliberately lying to you. LMFAO! Pete Buttigieg is being mercilessly MOCKED nationwide for saying this: “What if we selected our president by letting the person who got the most votes take office, instead of the Electoral College?” Donald J. Trump would still be your president, check the scoreboard … pic.twitter.com/I4sk2wVSxp — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 3, 2026 The post A Must See: An Impeachment, Startling Stats, a Dangerous Lie appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal returned to his alma mater over the weekend, delivering a colorful, energetic commencement address to Louisiana State University’s graduating class of 2026. Speaking from the perspective of an elder statesman offering sage advice to the next generation, O’Neal — who dominated the collegiate ranks at LSU before embarking on one of the most physically imposing careers in NBA history — implored the “youngsters” to embrace resilience and integrity as they step into the world. O’Neal, who famously earned his bachelor’s degree from LSU in 2000 after leaving early for the NBA, opened with his trademark humor, saying: I’m not going to be long because I know you guys are hungry, because I’m hungry as hell. I was tricked. I was bamboozled this morning. They told me to arrive at 7:30. And three hours later, I received something that had nothing in it. Last time I sat this long, I was sitting on the toilet after I had some bad chimichanga from TJ Ribs. Turning serious, he expressed immense pride in the graduates and laid out five core pillars for their future success: never stop learning, use failure as motivation, prioritize character over resumes, stay curious in a “weird world,” and celebrate milestones while continuously striving ahead. “There’s a small percentage of people that accomplish things on the first try,” he declared. “Most of us regular people have to go again, again, again, and again. So again, before you succeed, you must first learn to fail. … Your character will take you further than your resume. Continue to be kind; continue to be humble. Continue to help those in need.” In a classic lighter moment, he also urged graduates to buy his “Shaq-A-Licious” gummies at 7-Eleven. The massive center’s perspective is backed by a resume legendary in American sports. Long before he was a four-time NBA champion, O’Neal entirely transformed the LSU basketball program under coach Dale Brown from 1989 to 1992. Over 90 collegiate games, the powerhouse center averaged an astonishing 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game, shooting 61% from the field. A two-time consensus First-Team All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year, O’Neal set an NCAA Tournament record by blocking 11 shots in a single game against BYU in 1992. After the Orlando Magic selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, Shaq won Rookie of the Year and famously shattered multiple backboard supports. O’Neal soon ascended to absolute league dominance. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and eventually formed a legendary dynasty with Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson. O’Neal led the Lakers to a historic “three-peat” of NBA championships from 2000 to 2002, capturing Finals MVP honors in all three instances. His 1999–2000 campaign stands as one of the greatest individual seasons in sports history, missing out on a unanimous regular-season MVP by just a single vote. O’Neal later secured a fourth championship ring with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2006 before concluding his 19-year journey with veteran stints in Phoenix, Cleveland, and Boston. He retired in 2011 with 28,596 points and 13,099 rebounds, earning a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Concluding his commencement address in Baton Rouge, the legendary big man led the arena in a roaring chant of “We did it,” reminding the graduates of their shared achievement. “I do not want you going home and saying I graduated with Shaq,” O’Neal told the crowd. “I want you to say Shaq graduated with me.”

Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak is set to testify before a Senate panel this week after his scoop on Ohio’s Medicaid payment system triggered renewed scrutiny from Republican lawmakers over government waste and fraud. Rosiak, whose recent “Medicaid Millionaires” series uncovered what he described as billions in questionable taxpayer-funded home health payments using newly released federal billing data, is scheduled to appear before a panel convened by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), the longtime Republican watchdog who has made rooting out federal waste, fraud, and abuse a signature issue. The hearing is expected to feature testimony not only on Ohio’s Medicaid system, but on broader failures in state-administered welfare programs that rely heavily on federal dollars. Rosiak’s reporting generated national attention after detailing how hundreds of little-known home health companies clustered in the Columbus area, many receiving millions in taxpayer reimbursements for loosely defined “personal services” such as homemaking, companionship, and conversation. The series also highlighted that providers appeared to operate out of near-empty office buildings while billing Medicaid enormous sums. Joining Rosiak on the Republican witness list are two Minnesota whistleblowers who raised alarms about fraud inside that state’s Department of Human Services. Faye Bernstein, a longtime DHS contract specialist and compliance officer, is expected to testify that she faced retaliation after flagging contracting practices she believed created serious risks for fraud. Bernstein has said DHS officials removed her from her workplace and barred her from department property after she challenged leadership over compliance failures. Also scheduled to testify is Jay Swanson, a retired investigator who spent years probing Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program. Swanson has claimed that beginning in 2014, he uncovered an extensive fraud scheme involving childcare reimbursements that may have exceeded $100 million annually. According to Swanson, the scheme involved a network of daycare operations run by Somali immigrants. Swanson has further alleged that his warnings were met not with enforcement action but institutional resistance, including efforts to suppress his findings and restructure his office to limit investigations. Democrats will call Donald Sherman, the head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, as their witness, setting up a partisan clash over how best to tackle fraud in public programs while preserving social safety nets. The hearing marks a major escalation for Rosiak’s Ohio investigation, which has already prompted public reactions from Vice President JD Vance and Ohio GOP gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. Both Republicans said they would look into potential abuse following The Daily Wire series, which found that Ohio’s Medicaid waiver system created a vast, lightly monitored industry built around billing taxpayers for in-home services that are difficult to verify. For Republicans, the hearing offers a chance to frame state welfare fraud as emblematic of a broader federal spending crisis. Democrats will likely attempt to make the hearing a battleground over whether investigators are unfairly targeting immigrant communities while seeking cuts to entitlement programs. A hearing date has been set for Wednesday, with testimony expected to center on whether federal and state agencies failed to detect — or ignored warnings about — fraud schemes that whistleblowers say operated in plain sight for years. Rosiak will also testify in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday before state lawmakers about his investigative findings. While in Ohio, he’ll appear at an anti-fraud event alongside Ramaswamy.

Now, will she actually carry through?

Ebony Parker allegedly ignored concerns about the child having a gun

News hope Na Hong-jin’s Alien Invasion Film Hope Gets a First Trailer—and a Possible Sequel The new film from the director of The Wailing is coming this fall By Molly Templeton | Published on May 18, 2026 Screenshot: Neon Comment 0 Share New Share Screenshot: Neon Hope, the new film from director Na Hong-jin, has already been described as “Cannes’ craziest movie” after its premiere at the French festival. The rest of us just get a teaser—for now. There may be more Hope down the road: Na has already written a sequel. “So if I have the opportunity, I would indeed make a sequel if possible,” he told Variety. Hope stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon Jung, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton. Fassbender, Vikander, and Russell are playing aliens, which becomes quite interesting when you watch the teaser. These aliens are … well, the actors are not recognizable (though one may wonder if the aliens can change forms). Na’s teaser isn’t shy about showing the aliens, which look kind of like if you crossed a hairless version of the creatures from Attack the Block with a lanky T-rex, then maybe removed some skin. They have very big mouths and very big claws. Here’s the synopsis: In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village. In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions. Na told Deadline that he watched a lot of American action movies for inspiration, from Duel to Jaws to Die Hard to Lethal Weapon. “I wanted to reference from the eighties and nineties for that sort of lone hero cop style to be reflected in my movie,” he said. Reviews from Cannes have been mostly enthusiastic; The Hollywood Reporter said, “It’s a great feeling to know from a movie’s first frames that you’re in the hands of an assured genre auteur. The rare action thriller that takes place almost entirely in broad daylight, Hope pulls you in immediately with its virtuoso camerawork, pulse-pounding score, adrenalized pacing and sharply drawn characters.” Neon is releasing the movie in the U.S. this fall, but a specific release date has yet to be announced.[end-mark] The post Na Hong-jin’s Alien Invasion Film <i>Hope</i> Gets a First Trailer—and a Possible Sequel appeared first on Reactor.