Peace Ultimatum, Menendez Resentencing, & Flying Cars

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
May 15, 2025

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The European Union just approved its 17th round of sanctions against Russia, targeting another 189 ships in Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers.

This brings the total blacklisted vessels to over 350, as Europe tries to cut off Russia's ability to dodge Western oil restrictions and fund its war in Ukraine. The EU also sanctioned 75 individuals and companies linked to Russia's military machine.
The shadow fleet consists of old, uninsured tankers that turn off transponders, fake their data, and transfer oil between ships to hide its Russian origin.
The timing coincides with direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia set to begin today in Turkey. Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenged Vladimir Putin to attend personally, saying that if he doesn't, it proves "he doest’t want to end the war." Putin’s name isn’t on the Kremlin’s attendance list.
But the EU isn't just waiting for diplomacy to work. Officials are already preparing another sanctions package targeting Russia's financial services, oil, and gas sectors if Putin refuses to agree to the ceasefire.

Officials seized 238 tons of circuit boards hidden in 10 shipping containers at a port in Bangkok, Thailand.

The shipment originated in the US and is one of the largest e-waste busts this year. The waste was falsely declared as mixed metal scrap to bypass Thailand's strict import ban on electronic waste.
The discovery highlights a growing global crisis - the UN reports that 62 million tons of electronic waste was dumped worldwide in 2022, with only 22% properly recycled. These numbers are expected to worsen, reaching 82 million tons by 2030 as people buy more gadgets and replace them faster.
E-waste contains dangerous toxins like lead, mercury, and cadmium that poison communities near recycling facilities. While recyclers seek valuable metals like gold and copper from circuit boards, their extraction methods contaminate air and water.
Thai authorities are pursuing charges against the importers and investigating two factories suspected of involvement. They plan to ship the waste back to the US.

The US had a historic 27% drop in overdose deaths last year.

An estimated 80,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2024, down from 110,000 the year before. It’s the largest one-year decrease since the CDC started tracking this data 45 years ago. The previous best was a 4% drop in 2018.
Experts point to several factors behind the decline. Naloxone, the overdose-reversing drug, is now available over the counter without a prescription. Treatment programs have expanded nationwide. And billions in opioid lawsuit settlement money from drug companies and pharmacies is funding everything from supportive housing to drug-testing materials.
The decline was widespread, with all but two states seeing drops. States hit hardest by the opioid crisis, like Ohio and West Virginia, saw some of the biggest improvements. Despite the progress, annual deaths remain higher than before COVID-19.

Facing a $12 billion deficit, California Governor Newsom wants to freeze immigrant enrollment in a state-funded health care program. He estimates the change will save the state $5.4 billion by 2028. (More)

Erik and Lyle Menendez got resentenced from life without parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately parole-eligible. The brothers killed their parents 1989, arguing it was self defense after suffering years of abuse from their father. (More)

Omaha elected John Ewing Jr., their first Black mayor, defeating three-term Republican incumbent Jean Stothert, who conceded Tuesday. The result ended over a decade of GOP control. (More)

Uruguay declared three days of national mourning for former President José "Pepe" Mujica. The ex-guerrilla leftist was respected across party lines for dialogue, while his modest lifestyle earned him "world's poorest president" nickname. (More)

President Trump credited Saudi Arabia's crown prince for influencing him to lift Syria sanctions during his Riyadh speech. He then met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging Israel normalization. (More)

German prosecutors arrested three Ukrainian nationals suspected of being Russian agents in a parcel bomb plot. They allegedly planned to ship explosives from Germany to Ukraine that would detonate during transport. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday (S&P +0.10%, Nasdaq +0.72%, Dow -0.21%). The S&P notched its third straight positive session. All three indexes are up for the week. (More)

AMD's board approved $6 billion in share buybacks, adding to $4 billion already okayed. The AI chip maker’s stock jumped 6% on the news. (More)

Boeing and GE Aerospace just scored a $96 billion deal with Qatar Airways for up to 210 new aircraft. The agreement struck during Trump's recent Qatar visit is Boeing's largest-ever widebody and 787 order. (More)

The NFL released its 2025-2026 schedule, with the season kicking off September 4 as Super Bowl champion Eagles host the Cowboys in Philadelphia. (More)

Angel City defender Savy King underwent heart surgery Tuesday after collapsing during Friday's NWSL match. She's now recovering with family and has an “excellent” prognosis. (More)

The PGA Championship starts today at Quail Hollow. McIlroy, Scheffler, and Schauffele headline Thursday's 8:22 a.m. group. Master’s winner McIlroy and world No. 1 Scheffler are favorites to win. (More)

Broken heart syndrome causes chest pain after emotional trauma like divorce or death. While women get it more often, men die at twice the rate—11% versus 5%—according to new research. (More)

A recent study reveals that hydrogen reservoirs exist in countless regions, including 30 US states. Scientists think there’s enough hydrogen to meet energy needs for 170,000 years. (More)

Google updated Android to detect text scams like the recent surge in fake “unpaid toll” warnings. Their AI catches crypto, financial, and gift card fraud, too. (More)

Photographers around the world capture stunning images of the flower moon.

Long read: The art spy who stopped Hitler from emptying the Louvre.

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