Good evening. I'm Will Dove and this is the nightly news for Friday, May 16th.
A coroner’s inquest into the 2024 euthanasia death of Normand Meunier, 66, revealed systemic failures in Quebec’s health-care system. Meunier, a quadriplegic, developed catastrophic bedsores after being left on an emergency room stretcher for 96 hours at St-Jérôme Hospital. By the time he sought Maid (medical assistance in dying) in March 2024, the wounds exposed his internal organs, rendering recovery impossible.
Nurses testified they failed to monitor the sores due to staffing shortages, and Meunier’s wife, Sylvie Brosseau, said requests for preventative equipment were ignored. Lawyer Patrick Martin-Ménard called the death a consequence of institutional neglect but controversially framed Maid as granting “dignity.” Critics argue euthanasia masks systemic collapse, with Meunier’s case highlighting how patients are driven to despair by inadequate care.
New York claimed the top spot in the 2025 Global Financial Centres Index, scoring 769 out of 1,000, edging out London (762) and Hong Kong (760). The ranking, based on 31,314 assessments and 140 metrics, cited North America’s dominance with four cities in the top 10, including San Francisco (749) and Chicago (746).
Miami and Vancouver saw the largest regional improvements, climbing over 10 places each. Western Europe retained eight top-20 hubs, while Asia Pacific’s growth centered on Chinese cities like Shanghai (744) and Shenzhen (743). Dubai rose to 12th, but Tel Aviv and Johannesburg plummeted. Analysts attribute New York’s lead to robust digital infrastructure and regulatory trust.
Kyiv is finalizing legislation to create a state-backed Bitcoin reserve, leveraging cryptocurrency donations to bolster its wartime economy. Over $225 million in crypto contributions have funded military supplies since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The bill, pending parliamentary approval, would formalize crypto asset management under the National Bank of Ukraine, aiming to mitigate inflation and stabilize foreign reserves.
Proponents argue Bitcoin’s decentralization counters Russian sanctions evasion, though critics warn of volatility risks. The move aligns with Ukraine’s push to become a global crypto hub post-conflict.
This assumes that Ukraine still exists post-conflict. See my upcoming interview with economist Martin Armstrong which will be released next week.
Peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv concluded abruptly today after less than two hours, with no progress reported. French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer denounced Russia’s “unacceptable” demands, while Zelensky urged stricter sanctions.
Meanwhile, Putin replaced Ground Forces Commander Oleg Salyukov with Lt. Gen. Alexander Lapin, marking the 14th senior military shakeup since 2023. Analysts suggest internal discontent over battlefield setbacks prompted the change. Moscow continues to evade Western restrictions, with the Moscow Times reporting oil revenues up almost 17% year-over-year despite price caps.
Poland’s National Prosecutor revealed evidence of meddling in its 2023 elections by a “globalist network” tied to U.S. Democratic Party affiliates. Documents allege funding routed through NGOs promoted progressive policies and anti-conservative narratives. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has not commented, but Law and Justice Party leaders demand a NATO inquiry.
The report coincides with BBC findings of coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting Central European voters, raising concerns about foreign influence in EU politics.
Former Trump officials are investigating allegations that publisher Springer Nature suppressed a 2020 paper linking COVID-19 to lab origins under pressure from Anthony Fauci. Emails released this week suggest Fauci’s team pressured scientists to dismiss the lab-leak theory, delaying peer review.
The paper, finally published in 2023, identified genetic anomalies in SARS-CoV-2 consistent with gain-of-function research. Congressional Republicans allege a “coordinated cover-up” to protect Chinese interests and the globalist agenda.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department under Robert F. Kennedy junior will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for children, teens, or pregnant women, citing “insufficient evidence” of benefits outweighing risks. Data shows under-18s face a 0.003% fatality rate from COVID, while Vaers reports 23,000 pediatric adverse events, including 1,432 myocarditis cases.
The move follows a March 2025 Supreme Court ruling limiting federal vaccine mandates. Health-canada maintains its guidance but faces growing dissent from some provincial officials.
Verizon announced it will terminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, calling them “divisive and counterproductive.” CEO Hans Vestberg stated the company will shift focus to “merit-based advancement,” echoing similar moves by Tesla and SpaceX.
Internal data showed DEI initiatives had no measurable impact on hiring or retention since 2020. Shareholders praised the decision, with stocks rising 3% in after-hours trading.
Russia is constructing its first underground oil reserve facility in Siberia, with a capacity of 11 million barrels, set for completion by Q4 2026. The $1.2 billion project aims to circumvent G7 price caps and EU embargoes by stockpiling Urals crude for Asian buyers.
Moscow has rerouted 89% of its oil exports to India and China since 2022, selling at an average $63/barrel-19% below pre-war prices.
This and other moves by Putin signal that he is, like Donald Trump, following a policy of “Fortress Russia”, working toward becoming as independent as possible in the ever-increasing likelihood of war with the EU.
Author Salman Rushdie, in his first interview since surviving a 2022 stabbing, criticized governments and tech firms for enabling “modern book burning” through content moderation. His memoir, Knife, details his recovery and condemns extremism, selling 2.1 million copies globally.
Rushdie called for free speech defenses, noting a 40% rise in book bans across U.S. schools since 2021.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, found in 67% of U.S. children’s snacks, caused a 14% blood sugar increase in peer-reviewed trials. Researchers warn the additive, used in candies and baked goods, may contribute to insulin resistance.
The EU banned titanium dioxide in 2022, but health-canada permits up to 1% concentration. Advocacy groups demand stricter labeling amid rising childhood diabetes rates.
I’m Will Dove and that’s the news for today, Friday, May 16th.
