This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge.  According to two U.S. officials and two additional sources briefed on the talks, Axios’ Barak Ravid reports that the US and Iran are negotiating over a three-page plan to end the war. The three-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) the two sides are negotiating over also includes a “voluntary” moratorium on nuclear enrichment by Iran. The U.S. demanded in the last round of talks that Iran agree to a 20-year moratorium. Iran countered with five years. The mediators are still trying to close the gap. As part of the MOU, Iran would be allowed to have nuclear research reactors for the production of medical isotopes, but would pledge that all of its nuclear facilities would be above ground. The existing underground facilities would remain out of commission. Perhaps the most notable element under discussion is that the U.S. would release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Iran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium. Axios adds that a top priority for the Trump admin is ensuring Iran can’t access the stockpile of nearly 2,000kg of enriched uranium buried in its underground nuclear facilities, in particular the 450kg enriched to 60% purity. The Iranians, meanwhile,…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! California Democrats were aware of a roughly $2 billion budget accounting error for months, even though Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January spending plan already projected a roughly $3 billion deficit for the coming fiscal year, according to a report.The mistake, tied to the state’s public employee retirement system, CalPERS, could shrink that projected deficit. But state analysts warn California still faces far larger long-term budget problems, with annual deficits projected at $20 billion to $35 billion.State legislative leaders learned about the problem as early as February, after it was flagged by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, but did not publicly disclose it until it was reported in April, according to a memo reported by KCRA 3.HOUSE COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO ‘RAMPANT’ CALIFORNIA HOSPICE FRAUD The analyst’s office said Newsom’s administration double-counted some retirement contribution rates, creating a $1.6 billion error.Another miscalculation involving future contribution estimates added another $450 million.Together, the two errors total roughly $2 billion.”Given the size and complexity of California’s budget, it is not uncommon that we come across errors stemming from calculation mistakes or formula errors etc.,” Legislative Analyst Gabe Petek said in a statement to KCRA 3. “Indeed, part…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Social media users on X thrashed ABC News Friday after the outlet presented a campaign ad from former President Barack Obama in favor of a Virginia redistricting measure as an “exclusive.””Why the hell does a major news network consider an extremely partisan campaign ad an ‘exclusive’?” RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway asked.The criticism followed ABC News labeling a campaign ad featuring Obama urging Virginians to vote “yes” on a redistricting measure as an exclusively obtained clip.The measure could boost Democrats in the 2026 midterms if approved.REPUBLICANS TARGET SPANBERGER AS ‘GOVERNOR BAIT AND SWITCH’ IN BID TO DEFEAT DEMS REDISTRICTING PUSH “By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms,” Obama said in the video.”By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we’re counting on you.”Other criticism abounded in the comments of Hemingway’s post, with some accusing ABC of being a “propaganda machine” while others blasted the legacy media as a whole.VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN SAYS SPANBERGER WANTS TO ‘TURN US INTO NEW ENGLAND’ “It’s so exclusive I saw it on YouTube before my video started about…

Merchant vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire, shipping sources said.Several commercial vessels tried to transit the strait after receiving a notice to mariners a day earlier saying passage would be allowed but restricted to lanes Iran deemed safe.On Saturday, at least two ships reported that Iranian boats fired shots, shipping and maritime security sources told Reuters. The incidents were reported in waters between the Qeshm and Larak islands. The vessels turned back without completing the crossing, the sources said.The United Kingdom Maritime ​Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The captain of a tanker said it had been approached by two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats that fired on the vessel. The tanker and its crew were safe.A container ship was also hit by gunfire, a maritime security source said.Some vessels reported that Iran’s navy had been broadcasting a VHF message saying the Strait of Hormuz was closed again.“Attention all ships, regarding the failure of the U.S. government to fulfill its commitment…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! All-you-can-eat dining is making a comeback across the U.S. — and a new report has revealed the top-rated buffets in the country.While high-end buffets in Las Vegas can cost more than $90 per person, many of the top-rated all-you-can-eat spots in America are much more affordable and located far from major tourist hubs, according to the report.The analysis, conducted by BetUS, ranked buffets based on Google review scores, adult meal prices and beverage prices. The findings come as the buffet industry experiences a major rebound, with the global market valued at roughly $700 billion, according to industry data.BUFFETS MAKE OLD-SCHOOL COMEBACK AS AMERICANS HUNT FOR DINING VALUE: ‘FINANCIAL GENIUS’The betting site’s report compiled the top 20 buffets in the U.S., the top 20 worldwide — from the Philippines to Bulgaria — and the top 10 most expensive. Here are five of the best stateside spots.1. Blossom Buffet – West Columbia, South CarolinaTaking the top spot as the best buffet in America, Blossom Buffet earned a 4.5-star Google rating while keeping prices relatively low at $17.25 for an all-you-can-eat meal with unlimited soft drinks. The restaurant offers a wide range of Asian dishes…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! FBI Director Kash Patel is vowing to take The Atlantic to court over a bombshell report published Friday evening that he says is filled with defamatory claims.”Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court — bring your checkbook,” Patel told The Atlantic in a statement included in the report.The story, titled, “The FBI Director is MIA,” outlined several explosive allegations, including instances of “erratic” behavior, “excessive drinking” and “unexplained absences.”KASH PATEL TAUNTS SWALWELL WITH FBI SIT-DOWN AS RESIGNATION FALLOUT GROWS The first claim alleged Patel had a “freak-out” over a tech issue earlier this month when attempting to log into a computer system, believing he was being fired by President Donald Trump following Attorney General Pam Bondi’s ouster and had to prep an announcement. The Atlantic cited nine unnamed sources familiar with the incident.”But Patel, according to multiple current officials, as well as former officials who have stayed close to him, is deeply concerned that his job is in jeopardy. He has good reasons to think so — including some having to do with what witnesses described to me as bouts of excessive drinking,” The Atlantic staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick told…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – As the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation are waking up to the dastardly effort by Democrats to disenfranchise GOP voters with a ridiculous new district map giving them 10 House representatives to just one for Republicans, former President Barack Obama has been tapped to help them lie their way across the finish line.With voters set to hit the polls on Tuesday, it is Obama coming in from the bullpen to be the closer. The former president seems to be in more TV ads these days than he was when he was back in his political prime. In his soft, dulcet tones, he tells Virginians that giving Democrats 90% of the Old Dominion’s Congressional seats, when over 45% of Virginians are Republicans is to create “fairness.” One can almost see George Orwell giving a sarcastic golf clap.5 VIRGINIA CONGRESSMEN: DEMOCRATS ARE REJECTING VOTERS TO GERRYMANDER OUR STATEHe also assures everyone that the measure is temporary, Democrats are only going to disenfranchise working class voters in the south of the state once, and then go back to normal in 2030, you know, unless there is another emergency …It is telling in…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Burger lovers take warning: neighborhood cookouts could be more expensive this summer, thanks to conflict in the Middle East.Global tensions are pushing up energy prices, resulting in higher costs for beef and the propane used to fuel backyard grills — just in time for Americans getting ready for barbecue season.”The impact of ongoing challenges in the Middle East on energy prices impacts nearly every facet of the U.S. economy and beef-cattle are not immune,” Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, told Fox News Digital.THE SINGLE CRUSHING PROBLEM AMERICAN CATTLE RANCHERS WISH TRUMP WOULD FIX INSTEAD Ranchers rely on energy at nearly every step of their process, from fueling tractors in the field to using trucks to transport cattle, and those higher costs are often passed on to consumers, Tonsor explained.Those pressures are showing up at the pump. The national average for a gallon of gas now stands at approximately $4.09, up roughly 93 cents from just one month ago, according to AAA, with costs climbing across nearly every region.Diesel, a key fuel for freight and shipping, has climbed to $5.61, up about $2.03 over the past year,…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! LAS VEGAS – WrestleMania is one of the biggest spectacles in sports.It is the premier event for the WWE, combining the fanfare of the Super Bowl with the hard-hitting action of combat sports. The top feuds in the company will come to an end while fans hold out hope of a major return or a surprise appearance from one of their favorite stars.For the pro wrestlers themselves, the event means just a bit more. It’s the culmination of everything they have worked for and a chance to showcase their skills to an audience of thousands in a stadium and millions watching at home. WWE stars Bayley, Jade Cargill and others told Fox News Digital what WrestleMania meant to them.Alba FyreYou can just look around this room and see it bring so many people together. There’s so many events going on. So many people can actually come and meet their favorite wrestler. And for me, that’s what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life, wrestling can just take it all away and get to be a bit more personal with that. It’s great for me.Alex Shelley”A lot of…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A former lead hostage negotiator under the first Trump and Biden administrations warned that the Iranians are tougher negotiators than the Russians, Chinese and even the Taliban, noting that several Americans are still wrongfully detained in Iran and should be included in any peace talks. Roger Carstens, the U.S. former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, said in an interview with Fox News that six American citizens are being held captive in Iranian prisons — each of them previously held in Evin prison in Tehran, known for its harsh conditions. He said the Iranians will likely use the American hostages as a “sweetener” to ensure negotiations go in “the direction of Iran” as the United States seeks a nuclear deal and permanent ceasefire. “Strangely, the Russians, the Chinese, the Taliban, the Venezuelans, when you start getting into hostage discussions, they tell the truth and they stick to what they promise. You can do a handshake deal with the Taliban, and they’re going to follow through,” Carstens said. “The Iranians. Absolutely not.”While Carstens remains confident that U.S. negotiators can secure the return of the six Americans, he stated that Iran is unlike any other foreign…