Soviet flags and symbols were banned at memorials marking Nazi Germany’s defeat

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Berlin on Friday to commemorate those who fought for the Soviet Union in World War II in a civilian march known as the Immortal Regiment. However, Soviet flags and symbols were not allowed and participants were prevented from marching in a single procession to the city’s main war memorial.

The Immortal Regiment, which is held on May 9 in cities across Russia and other countries, is a procession in which people carry portraits of relatives who fought against Nazi Germany in World War II. The idea was first conceived in the Russian city of Tomsk in 2012 and has since spread across the world.

The procession in Berlin, which drew members of the Russian community and local residents, moved through the center of the German capital and concluded at the Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, where thousands of Red Army soldiers are buried.

Marchers wishing to lay flowers at the memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat were allowed to approach the site in groups of only ten, each escorted by law enforcement.

At the memorial, a group of pro-Ukraine activists attempted to interfere with the flower-laying ceremony and had to be restrained by police.

Marchers were chanting “Russia, Russia,” while the opposing demonstrators waved Ukrainian and NATO flags and held signs reading “Arm Ukraine.”

Earlier this week, Berlin city officials banned the display of Soviet flags and symbols at World War II memorials during the May 8–9 events in the capital. The restrictions also extended to singing Soviet songs in public.

Moscow decried the ban as “degrading” and “discriminatory.” The Russian embassy in Berlin strongly criticized the measure, arguing that it violated the rights of the descendants of Soviet soldiers. Up to 27 million Soviet citizens died in the fight to defeat Nazism.

In 2023, the city authorities outlawed both Russian and Soviet flags during Victory Day commemorations. In 2024, additional symbols, including the letters ‘Z’ and ‘V’, were banned for being associated with the Ukraine conflict.

Despite the ban, participants of the Immortal Regiment sang ‘Katyusha’, a popular wartime folk song symbolizing hope, sacrifice, and the longing of those left behind on the home front.

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The Serbian and Slovak leaders came to Moscow despite “frenzied” EU pressure, Dmitry Peskov has said

The Kremlin has praised Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for defying EU pressure and attending the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital on Friday.

Despite warnings from Brussels, Vucic and Fico also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to attending the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. Both leaders faced travel hurdles after several EU countries closed their airspace to their jets en route to Russia. Moscow condemned the moves as “hostile.”

“These days… it is simply an act of heroism. Showing one’s sovereign will to pay tribute to the memory of Victory Day, despite the blatant, frenzied pressure, is worthy of the highest praise,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Last month, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned leaders from member and candidate countries against traveling to Moscow to commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. She suggested that they visit Kiev instead.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reportedly also told Vucic in April that his presence in Moscow would be held against Serbia’s EU bid.

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Latvia and Lithuania denied their airspace to the plane of the Serbian president, forcing it to fly through Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in order to make it to Moscow on Wednesday. Vucic came to Russia despite a recent health scare that forced him to cut short a trip to the US and cancel a meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida.

Estonia closed its airspace to Fico’s plane on Wednesday. The Baltic state’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, claimed that “Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe” and “participation in propaganda events organized by them should be ruled out” for EU representatives.

Putin earlier praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels.

READ MORE: Russia hit by mass flight disruptions

The celebrations in Moscow were attended by heads of state and top officials from 30 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

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With views spanning the political spectrum, the new pontiff may frustrate culture warriors on both sides of the Atlantic

For the first pope in history from the United States, only his citizenship, place of birth – Chicago – and nickname are actually American. The faithful call him Father Bob, but not in English, which had no place in his first address to believers from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The new Pope Leo XIV spoke in Italian and Spanish – the languages that, for him, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (Prevo being the French pronunciation), have been his working languages all these years. As the leader of the Augustinians, he visited orders around the world, communicating in these languages.

So is the new Pope a liberal or a conservative? For today’s America, where the government is increasingly leaning toward traditional values (recall the visit of Catholic US Vice President J.D. Vance to the Vatican on the eve of Pope Francis’s death, or the daily briefings that Trump’s press secretary Caroline Leavitt begins with a prayer), this question is crucial. And here, the American left has already made an unfortunate blunder.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost hadn’t even become Pope Leo XIV yet, and the liberal Wall Street Journal had already put its foot in it. On the eve of the conclave, the publication confidently claimed that his American citizenship would supposedly prevent his election. “A US passport is a liability, especially in the Trump era,” the paper wrote. But it turned out that this was only a liability for American liberals. You can become pope with that passport. That said, Cardinal Prevost can’t be called a Trumpist either – otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood a chance of being elected.

The election of Leo XIV shook the Catholic world, as there had long been an unspoken taboo against a pope from the United States. Given the geopolitical power of the US, electing an American as pontiff was seen as risky. Thus, the changes in the Vatican are also an indirect sign of the weakening of U.S. hegemony, as well as an indication of the emergence of a multipolar world.

Ordained in 1982 at the age of 27, Prevost received his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He has served as a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop in Peru. He has travelled all his life, which has shaped his particular attitude towards migrants, similar to that of Pope Francis. He has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration’s policies on illegal migration.

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A recent example is the retweet of a post from April 14, in which Prevost expressed support for those condemning the White House for deporting Kilmara Abrego Garcia – an undocumented migrant and father of three who is suspected of ties to the MS-13 gang in El Salvador. Cardinal Prevost also publicly sparred with J.D. Vance on issues of illegal immigration. In 2017, the future pope reposted a post in support of DACA recipients - illegal migrants who were brought to the US as children. And a year later, he shared a post saying, “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.”

So he is a liberal? No, that’s wrong too. In a 2012 address to bishops, for example, Prevost lamented that Western media and pop culture encourage ‘sympathy for beliefs and practices that are contrary to the Gospel’. He mentioned ‘homosexual lifestyles’ and ‘alternative families made up of same-sex partners and their adopted children’. As Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, he openly opposed a government plan to introduce gender education in schools. ‘The promotion of gender ideology is confusing because it seeks to create genders that do not exist,’ he told local media.

A quiet reformer, continuing the work of his predecessor but trying to smooth out sharp edges - this is how the new Pope’s future policy can be described for now.

At the White House, where they were watching the white smoke over the Sistine Chapel with particular interest, there seems to be no objection. The US president and vice-president were quick to congratulate Leo XIV on his election. And it’s no surprise.

Catholics in modern America make up a fifth of the population, the majority of whom are Spanish-speaking – a key voter bloc that Republicans have been increasingly successful in competing for against the Democrats. Both of Donald Trump’s potential successors, when looking ahead to the 2028 election – J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio – are also Catholics. In such circumstances, a loyal pope could be considered almost an ally.

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The new measures target up to 100 oil tankers that the West claims are part of a Russian “shadow fleet”

The British government has announced its “largest-ever” sanctions package against Russia, according to an official statement. The measure aim to deal a blow to the Russia’s oil transportation network and reduce Moscow’s energy revenues.

The announcement was timed to coincide with Russia’s celebration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany on Friday.

London, one of Kiev’s staunchest supporters – providing it with military and tactical support and billions in cash – has long claimed that Moscow poses a threat to the UK’s national security. Various British governments have implemented over 2,000 sanctions against Russian individuals and entities, since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict over three years ago.

“The threat Russia poses to our national security cannot be underestimated. To ramp up the pressure on Putin, I’m announcing the largest package of sanctions yet,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X.

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The new measures blacklist up to 100 oil tankers that the West claims are part of a Russian “shadow fleet,” older vessels operating outside Western insurance systems. According to London, the vessels have carried more than $24 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024. The EU and the US have also targeted Russian shipping and a 17th European sanctions package that would blacklist another 150 ships is expected to be approved later this month.

Moscow has dismissed the restrictions as a “futile” gesture that will not harm the Russian economy, but instead drive-up energy costs and inflation across Europe.
Russia’s oil revenues have remained robust thanks to non-Western buyers, such as China and India. Last month, the Russian Embassy in London urged the British government to stop “theatrical and short-lived gestures of hostility towards Russia.”

The UK has also accused the vessels of posing a threat to critical undersea infrastructure, such as telecommunications cables and oil and gas pipelines, dismissed by Moscow as “hastily concocted fantasy stories.”

London’s tough sanctions rhetoric comes as Britain, along with the EU, is being sidelined from the peace process around Ukraine.

READ MORE: EU and UK preparing naval blockade of Russia – Putin aide

A key London meeting on the conflict was downgraded last month after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his attendance. US President Donald Trump has also floated the idea of a possible partial lifting of restrictions on Moscow as part of a possible peace settlement.

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The military bloc’s deputy commander for Ukraine support told a meeting, “If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy”

NATO’s deputy commander for Ukraine support has been dismissed over a rape-related remark he made during a high-level meeting, Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

Major General Hartmut Renk told a gathering in February “If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy.”

Following a formal complaint from a female British officer, Renk admitted to making the comment but reportedly used it sarcastically to motivate his team, according to the outlet.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and General Carsten Breuer, the head of the German armed forces, oversaw an investigation, after which, the minister removed Renk from his NATO post, canceled his planned promotion to a role in the US, and initiated disciplinary proceedings.

The two-star general now reportedly faces early retirement.

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NATO publicly committed to combating conflict-related sexual violence and adopted a zero-tolerance policy in 2020. Each bloc member is responsible for investigating misconduct and taking disciplinary or legal action against its own personnel.

Despite this policy, sexual misconduct within NATO ranks, including incidents involving senior officers, has been widely reported. A 2024 NATO Review highlighted persistent sexual harassment and called for cultural change within military institutions.

Renk’s dismissal comes as new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to overhaul the country’s armed forces, restore credibility, and significantly increase military spending under the campaign slogan, “Germany is back.”

READ MORE: German defense minister pushing for ‘drastic’ budget hike – Reuters

The former senior commander began his military career in 1982 and was deployed to both Kosovo and Afghanistan. He most recently worked on providing weapons and training for Kiev through NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program.

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The 145% tariff on Chinese imports could reportedly be cut while negotiations to clinch a trade agreement are ongoing

The administration of US President Donald Trump is mulling a plan to reduce the massive tariffs previously imposed on goods imported from China, the New York Post reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The measure will reportedly come into force as soon as next week and remain in effect during trade talks between Beijing and Washington.

Senior officials from China and the US are set to meet on Saturday in the Swiss city of Geneva to hold negotiations, as the countries with the world’s two largest economies seek to de-escalate tensions that have resulted in a de facto mutual trade embargo.

The sweeping 145% tariff on Chinese imports will be reduced to between 50% and 54%, the New York Post cited sources close to the negotiations as saying. Trade tariffs on neighboring South Asian countries could be cut to 25%, one source told the tabloid.

Commenting on the reported reduction, White House spokesman Kush Desai told the outlet that any decisions on tariffs would come directly from the president, adding that “anything else is just pure speculation.”

Relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained due to Trump’s decision to impose the steepest-ever tariffs on Chinese exports to the US. The president cited national security and concerns about the trade imbalance to justify the measure. The Chinese authorities, in turn, have accused the White House of “economic bullying” and retaliated with 125% tariffs on all US imports and introduced export controls.

READ MORE: Chinese exporters dodging US tariffs – FT

Earlier this week, China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed that Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for economic and trade talks during his visit to Switzerland this coming weekend.

On Thursday, Trump expressed hope that the two nations could resolve their differences and reach a deal that would benefit both sides.

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Several EU countries closed airspace to the respective leaders who were en route to the Russian capital

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has shared footage of him shaking hands with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico near the Kremlin. Both leaders faced significant challenges in reaching the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital, due to airspace bans imposed by several EU countries.

“Brotherly meeting with the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico tonight in Moscow. Serbs and Slovaks brothers forever!” Vucic wrote on Instagram on Thursday, alongside a clip showing of the two leaders greeting each other.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had warned leaders of member states and candidate countries against traveling to Russia for the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The renowned Russia hawk urged instead that they visit Kiev.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reportedly also told Vucic in late April that his presence in Moscow could impact Serbia’s EU accession to the bloc.

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Latvia and Lithuania denied airspace access to Vucic’s plane, forcing it to reroute through Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

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Estonia refused to facilitate Fico’s aircraft, despite Slovakia holding a year-round permit to use Estonian airspace for government flights.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna insisted that EU representatives should avoid participating in “propaganda events organized by Russia.”

Despite the attempted blocks, both Vucic and Fico went ahead with their plans to attend the Victory Day event in Moscow. They are among more than two dozen world leaders participating in this year’s commemorations in the Russian capital. Other attendees include Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Ambassadors of neighboring countries have already been informed about Chancellor Merz’s decision, Die Welt has reported

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will declare a national emergency to tackle the country’s issues with migration, Die Welt has reported.

Merz, who was elected chancellor on Tuesday, said on his first day in office that his government would begin turning back illegal migrants at the border. Germany remains the top destination for asylum seekers in the EU. Last year, it received a quarter (over 237,000) of all asylum applications across the 27-member bloc.

Berlin has already informed the ambassadors of neighboring countries about the chancellor’s decision to impose a national emergency, the paper said in an article on Thursday.

The move would allow the German government to prioritize its own decisions over EU regulations, according to Die Welt.

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In order to turn away migrants, Berlin will invoke Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which provides for “the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security” by member states.

Germany has a 3,700km land border with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands. They are all part of the EU’s Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel for most EU citizens and many non-EU nationals.

On Wednesday, Germany’s newly appointed interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, told journalists: “we will control the borders more strictly,” which will lead “to a higher number of rejections” of asylum applications.

The goal is to “send a clear signal to the world and to Europe that the policy in Germany has changed,” he explained.

READ MORE: New German chancellor tells US to ‘stay out’ of Berlin’s affairs

In a letter seen by Bild, Dobrindt instructed the head of the Federal Police to disregard a 2015 directive from then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who allowed more than a million migrants into the country at the height of Europe’s 2015-16 refugee crisis.

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The Chinese leader has said Beijing hopes for a fair and lasting settlement between Moscow and Kiev

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the root causes of the Ukraine conflict to be eliminated as a way to achieve a lasting peace. He made the remarks during an informal meeting on May 8 with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

Xi is among more than two dozen world leaders attending this year’s events in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Xi and Putin held talks in a closed format and later in an expanded session with their delegations.

“China advocates and adheres to the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security concept for the Ukrainian crisis,” the ministry said in a statement, citing the Chinese president.

“The reasonable security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and the root causes of the crisis should be eliminated.”

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Xi expressed hope for a “fair, lasting, binding,” and mutually acceptable settlement between Moscow and Kiev through dialogue. Putin “highly appreciated” Xi’s approach, the ministry noted, and reiterated that Russia remains open to peace talks without preconditions.

According to the ministry, the discussions between Xi and Putin covered a broad range of international and regional issues and focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation. Xi said the world “has entered a new period of turbulence and change,” adding that as long as China and Russia “adhere to strategic cooperation, no force can stop the two countries from achieving their own development and revitalization.”

The Kremlin previously announced that Putin and Xi signed a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, as well as nearly three dozen intergovernmental and interagency agreements in a variety of areas.

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Kim Jong-un personally inspected the operational reliability of the “nuclear trigger” system

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a military exercise simulating a nuclear counterattack, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The drill, conducted on Thursday, involved the launch of short-range ballistic missiles and long-range artillery to assess the readiness of the nation’s nuclear forces.

The exercise featured 600mm multiple-launch rocket systems and the Hwasong-11 (KN-23) tactical ballistic missile, both said to have nuclear capabilities. The missiles reportedly flew around 800km before landing in the sea, demonstrating the operational capacity of North Korea’s missile systems.

The drill also included an inspection of the “nuclear trigger” system, designed to manage and control the nation’s deterrence arsenal and ensure rapid deployment if necessary. “The goal of the drill was achieved, and the reliability of the command and mobilization system capable of quickly reacting to any nuclear crisis was verified,” the KCNA reported.

Kim stressed the importance of maintaining the combat readiness of the country’s nuclear forces, highlighting the need to enhance long-range precision strike capabilities and overall weapons efficiency.

Last month, he called for accelerated efforts to arm the navy with nuclear weapons, while attending a weapons systems test aboard the DPRK’s Choe Hyon multi-mission destroyer. After witnessing the demonstration, he reportedly noted that the warship’s firepower still relied on conventional weaponry and “cannot be called a reliable means of maritime defense.”

The US and South Korea have been conducting regular joint military exercises in the region, which North Korea has repeatedly condemned as provocative. In response, Pyongyang has increased its missile testing, asserting its right to self-defense and deterrence.

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Russia has also pledged to help protect North Korea if it comes under attack, under a mutual defense agreement signed last year. The treaty obligates both parties to provide immediate military assistance to each other if necessary.

The agreement was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim in June 2024, after which North Korean troops officially joined Moscow’s military operation aimed at repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region. Putin later expressed gratitude for the role Pyongyang’s troops played in liberating the region, noting that they had demonstrated “heroism, a high level of specialized training, and bravery.”

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The US president has urged a longer truce amid Kiev’s reported refusal to even observe a 72-hour pause unilaterally declared by Moscow

US President Donald Trump has expressed hope that Moscow and Kiev will soon agree to a month-long truce following his call on Thursday with Vladimir Zelensky, amid a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire that was unilaterally declared by Russia.

Starting at midnight on Thursday, Russian forces ceased hostilities and remained at previously occupied positions, only providing a “tit-for-tat reaction” to violations by Ukraine, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow. Ukrainian troops reportedly carried out at least 488 attacks and attempted two incursions into Russia’s Kursk Region, according to the ministry.

Zelensky, who had previously dismissed the Russian peace initiative as “manipulation” while Kiev intensified drone strikes on Russian territory, held a phone call with Trump later in the day. After the call, he claimed that “Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire today, right from this moment,” but insisted that the truce should last for at least 30 days.

READ MORE: Ukrainian cross border incursions thwarted during Victory Day truce – Russia

“Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social after the call.

The US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations.

Trump warned that if a ceasefire is reached but “is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions.”

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Moscow has repeatedly stated its readiness to begin negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions. In March, it agreed to a US-brokered 30-day partial ceasefire focused on halting strikes on energy infrastructure. However, according to the Russian military, Kiev violated the truce on numerous occasions.

Announcing the ceasefire last week, President Vladimir Putin described it as a humanitarian gesture to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany – and one that could also serve as a catalyst for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

While calling for a longer “unconditional ceasefire” on Thursday, Trump stressed that the truce “must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement,” reiterating his commitment to secure a “lasting” peace between Russia and Ukraine.

“It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment’s notice if my services are needed,” he added.

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The US president believes Beijing can help bring the positions of Moscow and Kiev closer, making peace talks possible

US President Donald Trump has said he could seek China’s help in his efforts to facilitate peace between Russia and Ukraine. He believes Beijing could help bring the positions of Moscow and Kiev closer, making peace talks possible.

“It is a natural thing to ask,” the president said when asked by a journalist whether he would ask China to help bridge the gap between Russia and Ukraine. “I think so, yes,” he replied.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have recently been strained due to Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods. The president cited national security and trade imbalance concerns to justify the move. Beijing has accused Washington of “economic bullying,” retaliating with 125% tariffs on all US imports and implementing export controls.

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On Thursday, Trump expressed hope that the two nations could resolve their differences and make a deal that would benefit both sides. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said last week that it was evaluating the possibility of trade negotiations with the US but reiterated that Washington must show “sincerity” by canceling its tariffs if it wants meaningful dialogue.

Trump’s statement on Thursday came amid Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia. Xi is among more than two dozen world leaders expected to attend events in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Chinese leader also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin which lasted more than seven hours.

Before the talks, Xi praised the close relations between the two nations. China is ready to “jointly bear a special responsibility with Russia, as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council” in the face of “negative trends of unilateral actions and power-based coercion in the world,” he said.

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Around 50 of the nation’s biggest corporations have signed an open letter on the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism

Dozens of Germany’s most prominent enterprises have acknowledged their responsibility for allowing Nazi tyrant Adolf Hitler to rise to power. In a letter published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the corporations, including Siemens, Uniper, and Volkswagen, have admitted that their forebearers’ greed and silence contributed to Nazi crimes.

“The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 would have been unthinkable without the failure of the decision-makers of the time in politics, the military, the judiciary, and the economy,” the collective statement marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe said.

Many German companies “contributed to consolidating the Nazi rule” and were “complicit” in the Third Reich’s crimes as they were solely driven by the desire to make profit, the document added.

The list of signatories included a total of 49 brands, including Adidas, Bayer, and BMW, as well as several major German banks, Deutsche Bahn, and Lufthansa. The companies stopped short of taking direct responsibility for the crimes of their predecessors and said instead that they “assume responsibility for making the memory of the crimes of the Nazi era visible.”

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“In 1933 and beyond, too many remained silent, looked away,” the companies said, adding that this past silence “imposes responsibility… for the past, the present and the future” upon them. The companies vowed to “stand against hatred, against exclusion, and against anti-Semitism” and called for the “achievements” made by the EU after the end of the Cold War to be protected.

The murky Nazi-era history of the biggest German corporations and families that largely control them has repeatedly appeared in the media. In 2022, former Bloomberg journalist David de Jong released a book titled ‘Nazi Billionaires’, which detailed the ties of companies such as Porsche, Volkswagen, and BMW to the Third Reich.

According to the book, Germany’s biggest automakers are still controlled by families that profited from Nazi rule. Some of their holdings include American brands ranging from Panera Bread to Krispy Kreme, in addition to luxury hotels across Europe.

“Businesses and many families in Germany were never really de-Nazified,” de Jong said at the time, adding that companies are only transparent when they are no longer controlled by the families of former Nazi collaborators.

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Bilateral talks to end the Ukraine conflict reportedly touched on resuming Russian energy exports to the bloc

Moscow and Washington have held discussions about resuming Russian natural gas exports to the EU, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing eight anonymous sources. The talks are reportedly part of broader efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.

The supply of Russian gas to the EU slowed dramatically three years ago, hit by sanctions related to the conflict and following the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. Russia’s 40% share of European gas imports has fallen to 19%, currently consisting mainly of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with some supplies provided via the TurkStream pipeline.

According to the news agency’s sources, the discussions touched on US firms buying stakes in Russian energy giant Gazprom or in existing pipeline infrastructure in Ukraine. American companies could also serve as buyers, purchasing gas from Russia and selling it on to Europe to bypass political opposition, Reuters cited several sources as saying.

Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the prospect of restoring Russian gas supplies a “mistake of historic dimensions” and stressed that “we would never let it happen.”

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has noted that Moscow is ready to negotiate restarting gas exports to the continent. “We know that some countries in Europe want to continue buying it from us,” he told Le Point in an interview last month.

Russia has been seeking to diversify its energy export markets against the backdrop of Western sanctions and flagging European demand.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak announced on Thursday that Moscow and Beijing have agreed to speed up work on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project. The conduit will allow Russia to export up to 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to China annually.

“The final negotiations... regarding economic conditions are now underway,” he said.

In addition to the Power of Siberia 2, Russia is looking into building an additional pipeline going through neighboring Kazakhstan, which combined would provide China with up to 100 bcm of gas annually.

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Russia and China want to expedite work on Power of Siberia 2, Aleksandr Novak has said

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to speed up the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, according to Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak.

The announcement on Thursday followed high-level talks in Moscow during Xi's official visit to Russia to attend the May 9 Victory Day celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany.

The planned mega pipeline is expected to allow up to 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to be delivered annually from northern Russia to China via Mongolia. The project has experienced some delays due to deliberations on pricing and route.

”There were discussions, it is indeed an important project. A certain amount of work has already been done, including the feasibility study… The leaders gave instructions to expedite the process,” Novak, who had previously served as Russia's energy minister, said.

Moscow is pursuing the project as it seeks to diversify its energy export markets amid Western sanctions and reduced European demand. For Beijing, the pipeline promises a stable energy supply to support its consumption needs.

Russia currently delivers gas to Asia’s largest economy via the Power of Siberia pipeline, which is part of a $400 billion, 30-year agreement between Gazprom and CNPC which was clinched in 2014. Deliveries started in 2019, and the conduit reached its full operational capacity in December, making Russia China’s leading supplier of natural gas.

Economic cooperation between the two nations has been steadily increasing despite unprecedented Western sanctions against Moscow. Bilateral turnover between Russia and China reached a record $245 billion in 2024.

READ MORE: Russia’s Gazprom posts $15 billion profit

Gazprom projects that gas exports will grow further thanks to soaring demand. In December, Novak announced that Russia has begun developing a new gas pipeline to China via Kazakhstan. Once all pipelines are fully operational, he noted, the volume of Russian gas supplies to the Asian powerhouse could reach nearly 100 bcm annually.

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B61-13 air-dropped munitions are expected to be in full production later this year

The US is planning to launch the first production of its newest thermonuclear gravity bomb variant next month, according to the country’s nuclear security agency.

The B61-13 will be a modification using B61 warheads, which hit full production in 1968, modernized with newer electronics and control features like a tail kit, effectively turning it into a guided munition. The warhead’s maximum yield is around 360 kilotons, 24 times that of the bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima, according to Fox News.

“The NNSA anticipates achieving the first production unit for the B61 Mod 13 later this month, almost a full year ahead of schedule,” National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) acting head Teresa Robbins told Congress on Wednesday.

Full scale production is expected later in the 2025 financial year, she said.

The bomb “strengthens deterrence and assurance by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets,” she added.

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In January, Washington began deploying the earlier variant of the bomb – the B61-12 – at US bases in Europe.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump named nuclear weapons as the greatest existential threat to mankind. In March, the US president called for nuclear powers to abandon their nuclear weapons.

“It would be great if we could all denuclearize, because the power of nuclear weapons is crazy,” he told reporters. “I would very much like to start those talks.”

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During his first presidential term, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing Russian non-compliance. Moscow has condemned the withdrawal and denied the accusations.

In 2024, after Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use US missiles in long-range cross-border strikes on Russia, Moscow revised its nuclear doctrine, and lowered its acceptable threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Under the new doctrine, any attack on Russia by a non-nuclear-armed state backed by a nuclear one will be treated as a direct attack by both, allowing Moscow to retaliate with nukes.

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Joseph Nye introduced the term ‘soft power’ in international relations

US political scientist Joseph Nye, who co-authored the international relations theory of neoliberalism together with Robert Keohane and coined the term “soft power,” has died at the age of 88, according to Harvard University.

During his six decades as a Harvard professor, Nye helped develop the John F. Kennedy School of Government (HKS), where he served as dean from 1995 to 2004. The faculty’s graduates include many prominent US politicians.

In a statement on Wednesday announcing his passing, HKS said that Nye’s “ideas on the nature of power in international relations influenced generations of policymakers, academics, and students and made him one of the world’s most celebrated political thinkers.”

The scholar “developed the concepts of soft power, smart power, and neoliberalism,” the statement read.

Nye introduced the theory of “soft power” in the early 1990s to describe the ability of countries to get what they wanted from other nations “through attraction, rather than coercion or payment.” He later came up with the concept of “smart power,” stressing the effectiveness of combining hard and soft power into a single foreign policy strategy. The term was frequently mentioned by the administrations of US presidents Bill Clinton (1993-2001) and Barack Obama (2009-2017).

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President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) put Nye in charge of his administration’s nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Under Clinton, he chaired the National Intelligence Council and served as assistant secretary of defense.

Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Nye as “a friend and mentor to so many, including me” in a post on X. “Few contributed as much to our intellectual capital, our understanding of the world and America’s place in it,” he wrote.

Nye had recently been increasingly critical of US President Donald Trump, accusing him of neglecting soft power and “bullying” other countries, including America’s allies. “Extreme narcissists such as Trump are not true realists, and American soft power will have a hard time during the next four years,” he wrote in an article for the Financial Times in March.

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Chicago-born prelate Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen on the second day of conclave

History was made in Rome on Thursday, with Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old native of Chicago, elected as pope – the first American ever to fill the role.

Taking the name Leo XIV, Prevost emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet tens of thousands gathered in the Vatican. “Peace be with you all,” he said, offering “the first greetings of the resurrected Christ” and urging that his message of peace “enter our hearts and our families.”

Prevost, a former missionary in Latin America, spent a decade serving in Trujillo, Peru before becoming bishop of Chiclayo. Elevated to cardinal in 2023 by the late Pope Francis, he was also appointed head of the powerful Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican body responsible for appointing most of the world’s bishops – a role that put him on many shortlists for the papacy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV following his election on Friday evening. In his message, Putin stressed the importance of continued cooperation between Russia and the Vatican. “I wish Your Holiness success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being,” the message reads.

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Prevost succeeds Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, just one day after presiding over Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis was the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope.

This week’s conclave saw 133 cardinal electors convene, with at least 89 votes needed to secure victory. Leo XIV was elected on the conclave’s second day, continuing a modern trend: Francis was elected after five rounds of voting, while Benedict XVI required four.

A senior cardinal confirmed the news from the loggia of St. Peter’s with the traditional “Habemus papam!” before Leo XIV stepped forward to meet the world.

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The Ukrainian parliament has ratified the minerals deal between Washington and Kiev, the US president has confirmed

US President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to talk with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in the near future. He has also confirmed that a minerals agreement between Washington and Kiev had been ratified by the Ukrainian parliament.

“We just concluded the rare earth deal with Ukraine,” Trump told journalists in the White House on Thursday. “We appreciate that and I’ll be speaking with [Zelensky] in a little while,” he stated, without providing any further details about the date or the format for the upcoming talks.

The two last met at the Vatican in late April on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral. At that time, Zelensky allegedly tried to use the brief conversation to persuade Trump not to give up on his efforts to settle the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, according to The Economist.

Trump’s statement follows the Ukrainian parliament’s ratification of the comprehensive bilateral minerals agreement with the US. The deal was agreed upon last week after months of difficult negotiations. It envisages Washington and Kiev establishing a joint investment fund as well as giving the US preferential access to its partner’s natural resources.

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The security guarantees which Zelensky’s government had long been demanding from the US were not part of the agreement, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal.

On Thursday, Trump hailed the ratification by saying “we appreciate that.” According to the president, the US now has “access to a massive amount of very, very high-quality rare earths.”

In February, Reuters cited estimates from two Ukrainian think tanks stating that about 40% of the country’s metal resources are now under Russian control.

According to the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), between 50% and 100% of the lithium, tantalum, cesium, and strontium deposits claimed by Ukraine are located in territory currently controlled by Russia.

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Artificial intelligence may bring about the end of the world as we know it – but not in the way most would expect

The global economy was already navigating a minefield of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) when US President Donald J. Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs reverberated across international markets. This aggressive escalation of trade barriers, including a mélange of sudden rate hikes, retaliatory measures, and rhetorical brinkmanship, didn’t just amplify the chaos; it ignited the specter of a full-blown economic firestorm.

Volatility unleashed

The moment the tariffs were announced, markets convulsed. Stock indices plummeted, erasing $2.1 trillion in global market cap within days, while currency markets whipsawed as traders scrambled to price in the fallout. Supply chains, still reeling from pandemic-era disruptions, faced new shocks. Factories in Vietnam scrambled to reroute shipments, German automakers recalculated production costs overnight, and Chinese exporters braced for 145% retaliatory duties on key goods. The tariffs acted like a sledgehammer to an already teetering Jenga tower of global trade, with each blow amplifying volatility far beyond their intended targets.

Uncertainty weaponized

While volatility reigned, the tariff war between the United States and China introduced a deeper, more corrosive uncertainty. Businesses accustomed to stable trade rules now faced policy seesaws. Exemptions granted one day were revoked almost overnight while the constant threat of broader tariffs were dangled without clarity on timing or scope.

CEOs delayed investments, fearing sudden cost hikes. The Federal Reserve, already grappling with inflation, found itself trapped in a Catch-22 situation: raise rates to tame inflation and risk recession, or hold steady and watch confidence erode. Meanwhile, allies like the EU and Canada retaliated with precision strikes on politically sensitive US exports, ranging from bourbon to motorcycles, threatening 2.6 million American jobs at one point. The potential unemployment tallies just kept rising worldwide.

The message was clear: no one was safe from the fallout.

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Complexity spirals out of control

As the trade war escalated, the global economic order began to fracture. Nations abandoned decades of multilateralism in favor of ad hoc alliances. China fast-tracked deals with the EU and ASEAN and began to court rivals Japan and India. The US, on the other hand, found itself isolated. Companies, desperate to adapt, began planning redundant supply chains – one for tariff-free markets and another for the US. This only served as a costly and inefficient hedge against further disruptions. Regulatory labyrinths simultaneously emerged overnight. A single auto part might now face several different tariff rates depending on its origin, destination, and material composition. The system now groaned under the weight of its runaway complexity.

Ambiguity: Strategy or stumbling block?

Worst of all was the ambiguity. Trump framed the tariffs as a “negotiating tool” to revive US manufacturing, yet no coherent industrial policy followed. Were these temporary measures or a permanent decoupling from China? Would they actually bring jobs back, or simply raise prices for consumers? The administration’s mixed signals left allies questioning America’s reliability and adversaries probing for weakness. Geopolitically, the tariffs accelerated a crisis of trust. NATO allies doubted US commitments, Southeast Asian nations hedged toward Beijing, and the Global South explored alternatives to the dollar. The longer the ambiguity persisted, the more the world adapted to a reality where the US was no longer the anchor of the global economy.

What makes these tariffs uniquely dangerous is their role as a VUCA multiplier. They don’t just create volatility – they lock it in. Uncertainty doesn’t subside – it metastasizes. Complexity isn’t resolved – it becomes the new normal. And ambiguity isn’t clarified – it is weaponized. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: tariffs provoke retaliation, which fuels inflation, which strains central banks, which spooks investors, which forces more protectionism. Meanwhile, the dollar’s dominance erodes, supply chains Balkanize, and businesses lose faith in long-term planning.

AI as the VUCA force multiplier

When the first round of tariffs was imposed by Washington DC, traditional economic models anticipated familiar disruptions in the form of market corrections, supply chain adjustments, and eventual equilibrium. What these models missed was the presence of a new wildcard – AI systems that don’t just respond to volatility but can amplify it. Algorithmic trading platforms and predictive logistics tools, operating on assumptions of continuity, struggled to adapt to the sudden, chaotic shifts introduced by trade barriers. In some sectors, this has led to mismatches between inventory and demand, not because of human misjudgement, but due to machine learning models which are ill-equipped to handle the cascading effects of cross-sectoral VUCA.

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AI is indeed accelerating the fragmentation of the global economic order. As nations implement competing AI systems to manage trade flows, we may see the emergence of parallel digital realities. One country’s customs AI might classify a product as tariff-free while another’s system slaps it with prohibitive duties. This isn’t just bureaucratic confusion; it represents the breakdown of shared frameworks that have enabled global commerce for decades. We used to worry about trade wars between nations; now we should worry about conflicts between the machines built to manage them. In a hypothetical future, trade wars will be fought by rival AI systems fighting proxy battles through markets, logistics, and information. Personally, I doubt this planet has scope for another crisis beyond this one, as Albert Einstein’s adage that WW4 will be fought with “ sticks and stones” comes to mind.

In the midst of the ongoing VUCA torrent, many clueless bureaucrats and executives have quietly turned to AI, particularly GPTs, to make sense of the myriad crises facing their nations and institutions. Many flawed decisions may have been made and sums allocated for “future-proofing.” Let me tell you why this is a recipe for disaster: one prominent GPT model gave me not one but five (5) erroneous and wholly-fictitious examples of how AI had messed up the post-Liberation Day geo-economic landscape. And here is the scary part: only those well-versed in complex systems, global risks and AI would have discerned those flaws. Otherwise, the scenarios generated by the GPT model were generally more accurate than most of those voiced by pundits on prime time television.

Why did the GPT model make such mistakes? I am convinced that AI is being surreptitiously used to sift out the gullible from the indispensable, perhaps in preparation for a post-VUCA world. But that remains a relatively optimistic theory!

Mass unemployment ahead?

AI and VUCA are rapidly converging to create the preconditions for the worst unemployment crisis since the Industrial Revolution. Back then, the West could resort to new markets in the form of colonies. This time, however, there are no new territories left to colonize – only the continued cannibalization of societies themselves. The accelerating spiral of global wealth inequality is not an anomaly; it is the clearest symptom of this internalized exploitation.

The world is not merely staring at job losses in specific sectors. No, this is about the simultaneous breakdown of multiple stabilizing mechanisms that have historically absorbed economic shocks.

Russia’s Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev recently claimed that half of his nation’s civil servants could be replaced by AI. Shadaev, however, noted that certain professions, such as doctors and teachers, cannot be replaced. Bill Gates thinks otherwise. He predicts that AI will swiftly replace humans in nearly every professional sphere, including teaching and medicine. For once, I wholly agree with Gates.

So, what do we do with the “excess humans”? Institute a CBDC-mediated rationing system as a stop-gap measure?

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Culmination of systemic global corruption

The VUCA-AI quagmire unfolding today is the consequence of decades of entrenched patronage systems that were perfected in the West and subsequently exported to the Third World. These were intrinsically corrupt systems that rewarded compliant mediocrity over critical thought. In sidelining genuine thinkers, these structures forfeited any real chance of forging a balanced, intelligent response to the collision between VUCA dynamics and artificial intelligence.

In the end, we are left with a world designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, to borrow a phrase from a disillusioned Boeing pilot. Many Third World pundits and policymakers, themselves products of the West’s neocolonial machinery, are now advocating a wholesale pivot towards the BRICS bloc. Like courtiers in a globalist brothel suddenly desperate for new clientele, these elites now decry the very “inequalities” that once elevated them to cushy posts – at the expense of the citizens they claim to represent.

As far back as 1970, the Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi had warned of the consequences of the “terrible strain of idiots who govern the world.” Szent-Györgyi, who bagged the Nobel Prize in Medicine (1937) for discovering Vitamin C had however hoped that the youth of the future would save humanity from a gerontocracy that cannot “assimilate new ideas.”

Little did he know that the same gerontocracy had already hatched a plan to create a new breed of “young global leaders” – even children – who were more feckless and pliant than their predecessors. This may have been the real raison d’etre behind the World Economic Forum. Personally, I can find no other justification behind the founding of this institution.

In the end, individuals with real ideas – both young and old – have largely abandoned a system that no longer rewards insight, only compliance. Their views no longer appear on search engines as Big Tech had employed a variety of pretexts to shadowban their viewpoints.

However, the day may come when the phones of ideators may start ringing again in the quest for “solutions”. It will be too late by then.

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Why the cracks in the World War II settlement threaten global stability

Eighty years is a long time. Over such a span, the world changes almost beyond recognition, and events that once felt close fade into legend. Yet while history may become distant, its imprint remains. The Second World War created a political order that shaped global affairs for decades – an order many assumed was permanent. But today, the world is shifting rapidly and irreversibly. The events of the first half of the 20th century are no less significant, but their role in contemporary politics is no longer the same.

The war’s outcome, culminating in the defeat of Nazism, defined the modern world order. In many ways, it was seen as a near-perfect struggle: a battle against an unquestionably aggressive and criminal regime that forced nations with deep-seated ideological differences to set aside their disputes. The Allied powers – divided by political systems and long-standing mistrust – found themselves united by necessity. None of them entered this alliance out of pure goodwill; pre-war diplomacy was focused on self-preservation and maneuvering to deflect the worst consequences elsewhere. Yet when the existential threat became clear, those ideological rifts were temporarily bridged. It was precisely because of this that the post-war order proved so resilient.

This framework weathered the storms of the Cold War and even lingered into the early 21st century, despite major shifts in the global balance of power. What helped hold it together was a shared moral and ideological narrative: the war was seen as a fight against absolute evil, a rare moment when the divisions between the Allies seemed secondary to their common cause. This consensus – centered around the defeat of Nazism and symbolized by milestones like the Nuremberg Trials – gave moral legitimacy to the post-war order.

But in the 21st century, that shared narrative has started to fray. As it weakens, so too does the stability of the world order it helped create.

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One key reason lies in Europe’s own internal transformations. In the post-Cold War era, Eastern European countries – long vocal about their dual suffering under both Nazi and Soviet regimes – have pushed a revisionist interpretation of the war. These nations increasingly define themselves as victims of “two totalitarianisms,” seeking to place the Soviet Union alongside Nazi Germany as a perpetrator of wartime crimes. This framing undermines the established consensus, which had placed the Holocaust at the moral center of the conflict and recognized European nations’ own complicity in allowing it to happen.

The growing influence of Eastern European perspectives has had a ripple effect. It has allowed Western Europe to quietly dilute its own wartime guilt, redistributing blame and reshaping collective memory. The result? An erosion of the political and moral foundations established in 1945. Ironically, this revisionism – while often framed as a push for greater historical “balance” – weakens the very liberal world order that Western powers claim to uphold. After all, institutions like the United Nations, a pillar of that order, were built on the moral and legal framework forged by the Allies’ victory. The Soviet Union’s enormous wartime contribution, and its political weight, were integral to this architecture. As the consensus around these truths crumbles, so too do the norms and structures that arose from them.

A second, subtler factor has also contributed to the unraveling. Over eight decades, the global political map has been redrawn. The end of colonialism brought dozens of new states into existence, and today’s United Nations has nearly double the membership it did at its founding. While the Second World War undeniably affected nearly every corner of humanity, many of the soldiers from the so-called Global South fought under the banners of their colonial rulers. For them, the war’s meaning was often less about defeating fascism and more about the contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while being denied it at home.

This perspective reshapes historical memory. For example, movements seeking independence from Britain or France sometimes viewed the Axis powers not as allies, but as leverage points – symbols of the cracks in the colonial system. Thus, while the war remains significant globally, its interpretation varies. In Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America, the milestones of the 20th century look different from those commonly accepted in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike Europe, these regions aren’t pushing outright historical revisionism, but their priorities and narratives diverge from the Euro-Atlantic view.

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None of this erases the war’s importance. The Second World War remains a foundational event in international politics. The decades of relative peace that followed were built on a clear understanding: such devastation must never be repeated. A combination of legal norms, diplomatic frameworks, and nuclear deterrence worked to uphold that principle. The Cold War, while dangerous, was defined by its avoidance of direct superpower conflict. Its success in averting World War III was no small achievement.

But today, that post-war toolkit is in crisis. The institutions and agreements that once guaranteed stability are fraying. To prevent a complete breakdown, we must look back to the ideological and moral consensus that once united the world’s major powers. This isn’t about nostalgia – it’s about remembering what was at stake and why that memory mattered. Without a renewed commitment to these principles, no amount of military hardware or technical measures will ensure lasting global stability.

Victory Day reminds us of the immense cost of peace – and the dangers of forgetting its foundations. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, it is this lesson that remains most vital.

This article was first published in the newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta and was translated and edited by the RT team

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The Russian embassy has condemned the ban as discriminatory and revisionist

A Berlin court has upheld a ban on displaying Soviet flags and symbols at World War II memorials during the city’s events marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, citing concerns over public peace and the Ukraine conflict. Moscow, has decried the “degrading” and “discriminatory” prohibition.

Earlier this week, Berlin police issued a ban on the demonstration of numerous Soviet-linked symbols during the May 8-9 events in the capital, including singing Soviet songs in public.

An unidentified local association filed an appeal against the ban, arguing that it unfairly restricted freedom of assembly for their planned commemoration at a Soviet Memorial in Treptow.

Berlin’s Administrative Court ruled on Wednesday that the police prohibition, which applies to Soviet flags, the Victory Banner, St. George's ribbons, historical military uniforms, and even wartime songs, stands.

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The symbols, according to the court, could be “interpreted as an expression of sympathy for the [Russian] war effort” against Ukraine and “endanger public peace”.

The Russian embassy in Berlin strongly criticized the ban, saying it violated the rights of descendants of Soviet soldiers and concerned residents to honor the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazism. Up to 27 million Soviet citizens died in their efforts to defeat Nazism.

“We deem the ban unjustified, discriminatory, and degrading to human dignity and view it as clear manifestations of historical revisionism and political opportunism,” the embassy statement read.

”We are convinced that on these significant days, everyone… should have the opportunity, regardless of the current political context, to honor the memory and pay tribute to the fallen Red Army soldiers and victims of Nazism in accordance with established long-standing traditions. Any attempts to prevent this deserve condemnation. We urgently demand that the relevant decision be repealed,” it stressed.

In 2023, Berlin police prohibited both Russian and Soviet flags during Victory Day commemorations, and in 2024 authorities outlawed Russian and Soviet symbols, including the red Victory Banner and the letters “Z” and “V,” associated with the Russian campaign against Ukraine.

In both cases, some people defied the ban by wearing Soviet military attire and displaying the prohibited flags.

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Estonia’s actions are “extremely disruptive,” Robert Fico has said

Slovak Prime Minister Rober Fico has accused the government of fellow EU member-state Estonia of trying to thwart his visit to Moscow for the Victory Day parade on May 9. The event marks the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union.

Estonia closed its airspace to Fico’s plane on Wednesday. The Baltic state’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, claimed that “Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe” and “participation in propaganda events organized by them should be ruled out” for EU representatives.

“Estonia informed us that it will not allow us to fly over its territory despite the fact that Slovakia has a year-round permit to use Estonian airspace for our government wing,” Fico said in a video-message on Facebook later in the day.

He described the actions by the Estonian government as “a deliberate attempt to thwart my visit to Moscow on the occasion of the official celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.”

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The airspace closure is “extremely disruptive,” Fico said, adding that it could prevent him from taking part in the celebratory events in Moscow scheduled for Thursday evening.

According to the prime minister, the government in Bratislava is looking for an “alternative route” for him to be able to arrive in the Russian capital before the wreath-laying ceremony and the parade on Friday.

The vice speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, Konstantin Kosachev, told Argumenty I Fakty newspaper on Thursday that the closure of the Estonian airspace for Fico was a “hostile” move by Tallinn aimed against Russia and its partners.

According to Kosachev, the Baltic nations have not come to terms with the results of the Second World War, and for them, “May 9 is not a day of victory, but a day of defeat.”

READ MORE: Slovak PM pledges to defy ‘unacceptable’ Zelensky threats

Earlier, Latvia and Lithuania denied their airspace to the plane of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who was also among the world leaders heading to the Victory Day parade. Vucic was forced to fly through Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia in order to make it to Moscow on Wednesday.

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Warsaw will instead focus on building a “safe future” with Berlin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said

Poland will no longer demand reparations from Berlin for the crimes committed by the Nazis in the country during the Second World War, the country’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Wednesday after talks with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Warsaw.

Calls for Germany to pay compensation resumed under the previous Polish government led by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which ruled the country between 2015 and 2023. In 2022, Warsaw estimated that Berlin would need to pay 6.2 trillion Polish zloty (around $1.5 trillion) for the damages inflicted by the Nazi occupation.

When addressed on the issue during his joint press conference with Merz, Tusk replied by saying: “Has Germany ever compensated for the losses, the tragedy of the Second World War in Poland? No, of course not.”

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“I am a historian… I could talk for hours about what this bill looks like. It was never repaid, but we will not be asking for it,” he stressed.

Merz also insisted that “the legal issues related to possible reparations have been resolved.” However, he added that “this does not mean that we cannot talk about joint projects and common ideas about how we see a future together.”

Ties between the two EU nations had been strained under previous German Chancellor Olaf Scholz due to disagreements on reparations, migration and other issues.

Despite acknowledging responsibility for the Nazi crimes, Germany had refused to pay reparations to Poland, arguing that the matter was resolved when Warsaw waived its right to restitution in 1953 under a deal with East Germany. According to Berlin, the compensation issue was definitively settled by the 1990 treaty on German reunification.

READ MORE: New German chancellor tells US to ‘stay out’ of Berlin’s affairs

The German invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the beginning of the Second World War. The country remained under Nazi occupation throughout the conflict, being liberated in 1945 by the Soviet Army and local forces.

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Law enforcement used tear gas and made arrests after celebrations following a Champions League semi-final win led to unrest

Widespread unrest broke out Wednesday evening in the French capital as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans gathered to celebrate the football club’s Champions League semi-final victory. The jubilation turned violent, prompting riot police to intervene and use tear gas to control the crowds.

Clashes with law enforcement erupted across the city, particularly around the Parc des Princes stadium and in central districts. Video footage shared on social media showed fans igniting flares and fireworks, damaging property, and confronting police officers. Tear gas was used to break up large, disorderly gatherings.

One of the most serious incidents occurred near the Champs-Élysées, where a vehicle drove into a group of PSG supporters, injuring three people. According to authorities, one of the victims remains in critical condition. The car was later set on fire, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

La situation degenere a l'exterieur du Parc des Princes apres l'ouverture du score.

Intervention de la police apres qu'un bus a ete entoure par les supporters. Utilisation de grenade lacrymogene. #PSGARS #psgarsenal pic.twitter.com/hZQj7Wm5XZ

— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) May 7, 2025

Local media reported chaotic scenes, including police lines clashing with groups of fans and efforts to disperse crowds late into the night. Around 2,000 officers in riot gear were deployed across key areas of the city, with emergency services responding to multiple incidents.

? DIRECT - #Paris : Une devanture d’un magasin est vandalisee.

? Les policiers sont debordes par les festivites de la qualification du PSG en finale de la Ligue des champions sur les Champs-Elysees. (? Temoin) #PSGARS pic.twitter.com/E073z7QwVj

— FLASH INFO Ile-de-France (@info_Paris_IDF) May 7, 2025

At least 44 people were arrested during the unrest on charges including public disorder, vandalism, and resisting police orders, the BFMTV news outlet reported, citing a police source.

Vehicule attaque sur les Champs-Elysees #PSGARS pic.twitter.com/WW9Vj0e5qR

— Fdesouche.com est une revue de presse (@F_Desouche) May 7, 2025

The disturbances followed PSG’s 2–1 home victory over Arsenal, which secured the French club a place in the UEFA Champions League final. The final is scheduled for May 31 in Munich, where PSG will face Inter Milan.

#ChampsElysees hier soir apres la victoire du #PSG.

La plus belle avenue du monde etait francaise.

Ce tas de debris, de detritus et de flammes est le resultat du passage des racailles issues de certaines immigrations arabo-afro-islamiques.

L’enrichissement qu’on vous dit. pic.twitter.com/HXj4HpeosS

— Jean MESSIHA (@JeanMessiha) May 8, 2025

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The two countries bear a “special responsibility” before the international community, the Chinese president has said

Beijing and Moscow have a duty to oppose unilateralism and coercion on the world stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Xi has arrived in Moscow to take part in festivities dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on May 9.

Before the start of the talks on Thursday, Xi praised close bilateral relations, stating that “China is ready to jointly bear a special responsibility with Russia, as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, to courageously defend the truth about the history of World War II” in the face of what he called “negative trends of unilateral actions and power-based coercion in the world.”

The Chinese leader also noted that under his and Putin’s “strategic guidance,” the relations between the two countries had entered a new era. “Our political interaction is strengthening, practical cooperation is deepening, and cultural, humanitarian, exchange, and interregional ties are gaining momentum,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Putin noted that the cooperation between the two nations is not directed against any third party. “We are developing our ties for the benefit of both peoples and not against anyone. Our relations are equal, mutually beneficial, and not opportunistic. The intention to build good-neighborliness, strengthen friendship, and expand cooperation is a strategic choice made by Russia and China,” he said.

Russia and China have enjoyed close ties for decades, with the two nations affirming a “no-limits” partnership in 2022. Moscow and Beijing have also increasingly shifted away from reliance on the US dollar, with both countries expanding trade in their national currencies. According to Russian officials, the share of bilateral transactions conducted in rubles and yuan now exceeds 95%.

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The two countries stand against neo-Nazism and militarism, the president has said

Moscow and Beijing remain staunch defenders of the historic truth and remember the countless people their countries lost during World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said during talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Xi is among the more than two dozen world leaders who are expected to attend the events in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Chinese president is also poised to hold negotiations with Russian officials.

During a meeting on Thursday, Putin thanked his “dear friend” Xi for the visit and for joining him in celebrating a “sacred holiday for Russia.” “The sacrifices that both our nations made should never be forgotten. The Soviet Union gave 27 million lives, laid them on the altar of the Fatherland and on the altar of Victory. And 37 million lives were lost in China’s war for its freedom and independence. Under the leadership of the Communist Party, this victory was achieved,” he said.

Putin highlighted the significance of the triumph over fascism, adding that Russia and China “defend historical truth and the memory of the war and fight against current manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism.”

The Russian leader also thanked Xi for inviting him to his country’s celebrations of its victory over Imperial Japan in WWII. “I will be glad to come back to friendly China on an official visit,” he said.

In echoing remarks, Xi emphasized shared historical memory and the strategic alignment between Beijing and Moscow. “The Chinese and Russian peoples, at the cost of heavy losses, achieved a great victory” and made an “indelible historic contribution to global peace and the progress of humanity,” he noted.

READ MORE: Kremlin aide reveals which world leaders to attend Victory Day parade

Russia and China have long enjoyed close ties, with the two countries describing their relations as a “no limits” partnership where there are “no forbidden zones.” Beijing has also consistently refused to support Western sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.

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Washington wants to look for other ways to end the conflict besides Ukraine’s idea for a 30-day ceasefire, the vice president has said

Washington wants to move away from the “obsession” with a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, US Vice President J.D. Vance has said. The US is more interested in shaping a durable peace agreement with Moscow, he told a Munich Leaders Meeting on Wednesday.

Ukraine had floated a one-month ceasefire as a counter to Russia’s 72-hour truce proposal to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

However, Moscow has rejected Kiev’s plan, arguing that Ukrainian troops, which have been on the backfoot for months, would use it to regroup and strengthen their military posture.

Vance stressed that the US remains interested in a “long-term settlement” of the conflict rather than a short-term one. “We've tried to move beyond the obsession with the 30-day ceasefire and more on the what would the long-term settlement look like? And we've tried to consistently advance the ball,” the vice president said.

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Vance also noted that the US has deemed Moscow’s initial negotiation proposals as excessive. “Certainly, the first peace offer that the Russians put on the table, our reaction to it was you’re asking for too much,” he said. “But this is how negotiations unfold.”

Vance added that US President Donald Trump is prepared to abandon negotiations if there is no progress, urging Moscow and Kiev to engage in diplomacy. “We would like both the Russians and the Ukrainians to actually agree on some basic guidelines for sitting down and talking to one another.”

Russia has repeatedly said it is open to talks with Kiev but noted that Ukraine has low credibility, especially when it comes to honoring ceasefire commitments. Moscow’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused Ukraine of sabotaging earlier efforts on this front, including a US-brokered 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure and a Moscow-backed Easter truce.

In light of this, she noted that Russia would view Ukraine’s conduct during the 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire, which went into effect on Thursday, as a test of good faith. Moscow earlier described the initiative as a humanitarian gesture and a move to pave the way for direct peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions.

Meanwhile, Trump appeared to support the three-day ceasefire, noting that it “doesn't sound like much, but it's a lot, if you know where we started from.”

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The EU parliamentarians have told dpa they want to send a message of peace by taking part in Victory Day celebrations

A group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including two Germans, are planning to travel to Moscow for a two-day visit to take part in Victory Day celebrations and send a message of peace, the news agency dpa reported on Wednesday.

The delegation will reportedly also include MEPs from the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Slovakia. The visit will feature “talks with [Russian] parliamentarians as well as politicians and cultural figures,” according to German MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich.

The two MEPs, who represent the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), told dpa they wanted to express support for the unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine announced by Moscow.

“We also want to send a signal that we are committed to ensuring that the guns in Ukraine remain permanently silent,” they said.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral Victory Day truce, which took effect at midnight on May 7–8 and is expected to last until midnight on May 10–11. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the initiative as “manipulation,” as Kiev intensified drone attacks on Russian cities this week, including Moscow.

Separately, two other BSW politicians – former German MPs Klaus Ernst and Sevim Dagdelen – told Der Spiegel on Wednesday that they would attend a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The politicians said they wanted to demonstrate opposition to the “falsification of history” and the demonization of Russia.

“Russia is not my enemy, and I don’t feel threatened by or at war with Russia,” Dagdelen stated, describing the occasion as an opportunity for “dialogue” and a “new beginning in German-Russian relations.” Ernst told the paper they were also alarmed by “the clearly visible signs of war preparations in Germany.”

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Their stance contrasts with that of Berlin and Brussels. The German Foreign Ministry had earlier advised organizers against inviting Russian and Belarusian representatives to WWII commemorations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned in April that the bloc opposes any officials from member or candidate states attending Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Berlin authorities have banned the display of Russian and Soviet flags and symbols during commemorations on May 8 and 9, according to local media.

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The US president claims America played a pivotal role in defeating Nazi Germany

President Donald Trump has officially proclaimed that May 8, which is not a federal holiday, should be celebrated as “Victory Day for World War II,” emphasizing the United States’ contribution as decisive – while completely ignoring the Soviet Union’s role and sacrifice in defeating Nazi Germany.

In a proclamation issued by the White House on Wednesday, Trump claimed that “without the sacrifice of our American soldiers, this war would not have been won, and our world today would look drastically different.”

“On this Victory Day for World War II, we celebrate the unmatched might, strength, and power of the American Armed Forces, and we commit to protecting our sacred birthright of liberty against all threats, foreign and domestic,” the US president wrote, emphasizing that “more than 250,000 Americans lost their lives” fighting for the “survival of Western civilization.”

Trump previously announced plans to designate November 11 as “Victory Day for World War I,” a move that would effectively rename Veterans Day – a federal holiday honoring everyone who has served in the US military. The White House later clarified that such declarations would not create new public holidays without congressional approval.

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Trump’s push to “start celebrating our victories again” has drawn criticism from Russia and even some Allied nations, who accused him of distorting historical facts. General Lord Dannatt, former chief of the General Staff in the UK – which lost about 450,700 people in the war – called Trump’s remarks “extraordinary” and accused him of “rewriting history.”

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of his country’s Security Council, dismissed the remarks as “pretentious nonsense.”

“Our people gave 27 million lives of their sons and daughters for the sake of destroying damned fascism,” he wrote. “Victory Day is ours and it is on May 9. That’s how it was, is, and always will be!”

Russia is grateful to the US for its support during WWII, but the USSR would have defeated Nazi Germany even without the assistance – though “it would have been very difficult,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week.

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The Soviet Union received aid valued at around $200 billion in today’s terms through the Lend-Lease program – a US government initiative that provided allies with military supplies, equipment, food, and strategic raw materials. The assistance, however, was not free. Russia, as the USSR’s successor state, completed its financial obligations related to the Lend-Lease program only in 2006.

Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces on May 8, 1945, following the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops. However, the capitulation took effect after midnight in Moscow, so Russia commemorates the occasion on May 9.

In 1945, the United States celebrated May 8 as ‘V-E Day’ (Victory in Europe) and September 2 as ‘V-J Day’ (Victory over Japan).

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The Washington-brokered negotiations on the current conflict need to come to a head, the US president has said

President Donald Trump has expressed displeasure over the pace of the US-brokered negotiations with Russia and Ukraine regarding the current conflict, stating that decisions need to be reached soon.

According to US Vice President J.D. Vance, Washington currently considers Russia’s demands for ending the conflict unacceptable. “The Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions, in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much,” he said at a Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Trump was asked to comment on Vance’s statement in a press briefing in the White House later in the day.

“It's possible that he's right,” the US president replied.

We are getting to a point where some decisions are going to have to be made.

“I'm not happy about it,” Trump said.

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Senior figures in the current US administration, including the president himself, have stated that Washington may have to step back from trying to mediate talks over the Ukraine conflict if sufficient progress is not made.

“At some point in time, it either has to be something that can happen or we all need to move on. That’ll be a decision the president will have to make,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News last week.

Washington has reportedly prepared a fresh set of economic sanctions targeting Russia’s energy and banking sectors, as potential leverage in the talks.

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Moscow has repeatedly declared that it remains open to peace talks with Kiev. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a 72-hour ceasefire around the upcoming Victory Day celebrations. Ukraine rejected the initiative, demanded an unconditional 30-day truce and increased UAV and missile attacks on Russia.

Despite this, the ceasefire offer is still on the table, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Russia’s demands for ending the conflict have remained stable: Ukraine must demilitarize, denazify, abandon ambitions to join NATO, stay neutral and remain free of nuclear weapons. In addition, Kiev needs to recognize the Russian regions of Crimea, Kherson and Zaporozhye as well as the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Moscow has stated.

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Undocumented migrants will now be turned away at the border

Germany’s new government has ordered tighter border controls, marking a sharp shift in immigration policy and fulfilling a key campaign promise of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Merz was elected chancellor on the second attempt on Tuesday after failing his first confirmation vote in parliament earlier in the day. He had pledged to turn back illegal migrants at the border on his first day in office.

On Wednesday, newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt signed an order banning asylum applications at all land borders. In a letter seen by Bild, he instructed the head of the Federal Police, Dieter Romann, to disregard a directive from 2015.

“I hereby withdraw the verbal instruction given… on 13 September 2015,” he wrote.

The instruction came from then Chancellor Angela Merkel, who opened Germany’s borders to more than a million migrants at the height of Europe’s 2015–16 refugee crisis. Her open-door policy later drew fierce political backlash and was labeled “disastrous” by critics.

Dobrindt said Germany would not close its borders but would significantly tighten control. Police have been instructed to turn people away directly at the border, he told a press conference, noting exceptions for children, pregnant women, and other “vulnerable” groups.

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The minister added that around 2,000 to 3,000 officers would be added to the current 11,000-strong federal police force stationed at the borders. He emphasized that the new approach should not “place excessive demands” on neighboring states and confirmed consultations were already underway with those countries.

Germany has a 3,700km-long land border with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands. All are part of the EU’s Schengen Zone, which allows passport-free travel for most EU citizens and many non-EU nationals.

Migration remains one of Germany’s most divisive political issues, with local authorities often warning that the number of asylum seekers is straining their budgets. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its strong anti-immigration stance, was designated a “confirmed extremist entity” last week by the domestic intelligence agency BfV, which said its activities could threaten Germany’s democratic order. The party filed a legal challenge on Monday.

As the EU’s largest economy, Germany remains the top destination for asylum seekers. The country received a quarter (over 237,000) of all asylum applications across the bloc in 2024, though the number was significantly lower in annual terms.

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A watchdog has reported dozens of injuries, millions in equipment losses and minimal results

The US military’s humanitarian pier mission in Gaza last year resulted in far more injuries, damage, and operational failure than previously publicly acknowledged, an investigation has found.

The mission, formally known as Operation Neptune Solace, was launched under the administration of former President Joe Biden in 2024 after the US failed to persuade Israel to expand overland access for humanitarian deliveries. The US military constructed a temporary offshore pier and floating causeway to transfer aid from ships to the Gaza shoreline without entering Israeli or Gazan ports.

The Pentagon had since acknowledged that the mission encountered certain challenges, such as rough weather conditions, which caused damage to the pier but did not disclose the full scope of the problems.

According to the Department of Defense Inspector General’s report, which was published last week, the mission caused 62 injuries among personnel, including the death of Army Sergeant Quandarius Stanley, who was critically injured aboard a Navy vessel in May 2024 and died five months later.

“The Army and Navy did not meet Service-level standards for equipment and unit readiness for their watercraft units,” the report stated, adding that neither service organized, trained, and equipped their forces to meet common joint standards. It also faulted the Transportation Command for shortcomings in logistics planning and exercises.

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The report also concluded that the mission cost approximately $230 million and led to $31 million in repair costs after more than two dozen watercraft and equipment pieces were damaged. It further underlined the questionable value of the operation, given that it ran for a total of three months but was actually functional for only about 20 days.

During that time, the US military said it had delivered approximately 20 million pounds of food and supplies via the pier. However, aid groups had stated that Gaza required that amount on a daily basis to avert famine.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply as a result of Israel’s military response to the attack on its territory by Hamas militants in 2023. Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombings, deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and obstruction of humanitarian aid, which have reportedly led to the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians. The imposed blockade has led to severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and other essential resources, according to international organizations.

Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly criticized both the US and Israeli governments for failing to unblock overland aid deliveries to Gaza and dismissed Washington’s efforts to open alternative routes as politically motivated.

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The European Commission is undermining the legislature’s budgetary authority, Roberta Metsola has argued

The European Parliament has warned the European Commission (EC) that it could take it to court if it bypasses EU lawmakers to create a €150 billion ($170 billion) loan program to boost defense spending across the bloc.

In March, EC head Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to raise €800 billion to expand military potential across the EU in response to what she described as “a threat coming from Russia” – a claim rejected by Moscow.

To raise the money, the Commission used Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which allows member states in emergencies to approve proposals from the executive branch in Brussels without going through the usual process.

On Monday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola sent a letter to von der Leyen, urging her to change the legal basis for the initiative, threatening to sue the EC if it fails to comply.

The adoption of the Commission’s plan without a proper legal basis would end up “putting at risk democratic legitimacy by undermining Parliament’s legislative and scrutiny functions,” the letter read.

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The EC “will always be available to explain why Article 122 has been chosen as the appropriate legal basis,” its spokesman Thomas Regnier told Euronews.

“[Western] Europe faces an unprecedented security threat. As stated by President von der Leyen in her Political Guidelines, Article 122 will only be used in exceptional circumstances, as the ones we are currently living in,” Regnier stated.

The €150 billion loan program is seen by the Commission as a cornerstone of its ‘Readiness 2030’ proposal to invest over €800 billion into defense across the bloc by the end of the decade when – as Brussels claims – Russia would be in a position to attack an EU-member country.

READ MORE: New German chancellor tells US to ‘stay out’ of Berlin’s affairs

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected allegations that Moscow harbors aggressive intentions toward EU countries, calling it “nonsense” designed to alarm Western Europeans and legitimize major increases in defense budgets.

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Mark Carney has requested the American president stop referring to his country as the 51st US state

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has claimed he asked US President Donald Trump to stop taunting his country as the 51st state during their first meeting at the White House on Tuesday.

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of acquiring Canada and described its border with the US as “artificial.” During the meeting with Carney in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated that sentiment and said that a union between Canada and the US would be a “wonderful marriage” and could bring “tremendous” benefits.

“When you get rid of that artificially drawn line... when you look at that beautiful formation when it’s together, I’m a very artistic person,” Trump said, recalling his real estate developer background.

Carney interjected by stating that “there are some places that are never for sale,” likening Canada to the Oval Office and Buckingham Palace.

“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, it’s not for sale, it won’t be for sale, ever,” the PM said, adding that the two nations could nevertheless work toward building a strong partnership together.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Carney said he had asked Trump to stop using the term 51st state and described the comments as “not useful.” At the same time, he acknowledged that Trump is the US president and “he’ll say what he wants to say.”

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The meeting came days after Carney’s election victory, in which his Liberal Party secured a fourth consecutive term. Carney centered his campaign on attacking Trump over tariffs and his insistence on acquiring Canada.

At the beginning of their meeting, Trump congratulated the new prime minister and joked, “I think I was probably the greatest thing that happened to him.”

Despite ongoing tensions over tariffs, which Trump said would stay in place regardless of what Carney said, both sides ultimately described the talks as positive.

“Regardless of anything, we’re going to be friends with Canada,” the US president told reporters.

Meanwhile, Carney called the discussions “wide-ranging” and “very constructive” and stated that trade negotiations would continue, including during the upcoming G7 summit in Canada’s Alberta province.

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The European Commission has announced plans to eliminate the purchase of gas, nuclear fuel, and oil from Russia by the end of 2027

The European Commission’s plan to completely phase out Russian fuel imports violates the sovereignty of EU member states by depriving them of the right to choose their energy sources, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

Brussels has outlined plans to end the bloc’s energy reliance on Moscow by completely eliminating imports of oil, gas, and nuclear fuel in the coming years.

Hungary obtains over 80% of its gas from Russia via pipeline, with LNG playing a supplementary role. Budapest has continued to strengthen its energy ties with Moscow despite the sanctions introduced by the EU in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.

“The forced, artificially ideological-based exclusion of natural gas, crude oil, and nuclear fuel originating from Russia will lead to severe price increases in Europe, seriously harming the sovereignty of European countries, and cause major difficulties for European companies,” Szijjarto said in a video he shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday, adding that “what was announced is absolute insanity.”

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“Everyone in Brussels has lost their common sense,” the foreign minister exclaimed, emphasizing that Budapest would not allow the European Commission (EC) to violate Hungary’s sovereignty and would “uphold the right to source energy from where it reliably arrives and where it arrives at a low cost.”

Earlier in the day, the EC published a “roadmap” outlining its ambitious strategy to end reliance on Russian energy by the end of 2027. The bloc’s executive branch said it would propose legislation in June requiring all member states to draft “national plans” to terminate their imports of Russian gas, nuclear fuel, and oil.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico also criticized the plan, calling the proposal “economic suicide.” He added that Slovakia would push for changes in the legislative process.

Brussels announced its intention to wean EU members off Russian energy shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Supplies of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) have since replaced much of the cheaper pipeline gas previously delivered by Russia.

Although Russian pipeline gas supplies to the EU have plummeted, the bloc has been increasing its imports of LNG from the sanction-hit nation. Last year, Russia still accounted for around 19% of the EU’s total gas and LNG supply, according to the EC.

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Boris Pistorius reportedly wants €60 billion allocated for the armed forces this year

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is seeking a major hike to the country’s military budget effective this year, Reuters has reported, citing sources.

Pistorius, the only minister to retain his role under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government, has previously claimed that Russia may attack a NATO country and that Germany “must be ready for war by 2029.”

Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the claims as “utter nonsense.”

Pistorius, according to a Reuters source, hopes for a “drastic increase” to over €60 billion ($68.21 billion) for the military in 2025, up from €51.8 billion in 2024.

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In an interview in December, he proposed an annual defense budget of up to €90 billion ($102 billion) “from 2028 onwards… due to the tightened security situation.”

Total German military expenditure in 2024 actually amounted to up to €90 billion ($88 billion), the first time Berlin has met its NATO spending target.

European NATO members have been under increasing pressure from the US to boost military spending. In March, the European Commission proposed a €800 billion plan to militarize the bloc.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Pistorius in April that Washington wants “European allies to assume primary responsibility” for their security and urged his counterpart to “actualize defense spending increases.”

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, announced a new package of armored vehicles, air-defense rockets, and howitzers for Keiv last month.

Merz also suggested he could approve delivery of long-range Taurus missiles to the Ukrainian army, a move resisted by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for fear of escalating the conflict.

Moscow has warned that any cruise missile attack on Russian facilities or critical transport infrastructure with the assistance of the German armed forces would be seen as the country’s direct involvement in military operations.

READ MORE: Germany announces new military aid package for Ukraine

The ongoing militarization of the EU amounts to an “incitement of war on the European continent,” according to Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently said the bloc “has degraded into an openly militarized entity and become de facto a branch of NATO.”

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New Delhi has claimed it was targeting terrorist sites in an overnight raid

Pakistan has accused India of killing civilians in a cross-border military operation overnight and promised a forceful response. In the attacks, Indian forces targeted what New Delhi described as “terrorist camps” in the neighboring country.

The escalation follows a terrorist attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory that left 26 civilians dead last month. The Indian government has accused Islamabad of harboring an armed group linked to the incident and characterized the pre-dawn missile and drone strike on Wednesday as retaliation.

The Pakistani National Security Committee (NSC) has dismissed India’s justification for the military action, calling it an “unprovoked, cowardly and unlawful act of war” in a statement issued after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Islamabad maintains the targeted sites were civilian areas and that the terrorist camps described by India are “imaginary.” Reports from Pakistan have mentioned at least 26 fatalities and 46 injuries. The NSC also claimed that Pakistani forces downed five Indian aircraft involved in the operation, including fighter jets and drones.

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”Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defense, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing,” the statement warned, urging the international community to hold New Delhi accountable for alleged violations of international law.

New Delhi described its Operation Sindoor as “focused, measured and non-escalatory,” targeting locations associated with the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The April attack was claimed by a group called The Resistance Front, reportedly an offshoot of LeT, which India identified as the mastermind behind the incident.

Russia has condemned the initial attack in Kashmir, with the Foreign Ministry stating that Moscow “objects to any terrorist activities and emphasizes the need for the international community to unite to effectively fight against this evil.” The country has urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions to their differences.

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From Ukraine to Kashmir: The old laws of power still apply

There is plenty to say about the chaos unfolding in Washington these days, but the sudden military escalation between India and Pakistan shifts our attention elsewhere – and provides some useful lessons.

Since the start of Russia’s military operation against Ukraine, India’s official stance has generally aligned with Moscow’s interests. Yet it has consistently stressed the importance of peace.

While many in India’s political and media elite – especially the pro-Western crowd – have criticized Russia, their views have been shaped by alignment with the West, not by deeper national principles.

India’s official line, however, has always been dressed in polished diplomatic language, designed to project wisdom and balance. Early in the conflict, India’s Ambassador to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said:

“India has consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to violence.”

Fast forward to 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi added:

“The conflict in Ukraine is a matter of deep concern for all of us. India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield. We support dialogue and diplomacy for early restoration of peace and stability.”

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And of course, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar offered a soundbite which was repeated endlessly in international forums:

“Wars are not the way to settle disputes.”

The consistent refrain at countless conferences about “peace in Europe” boiled down to this: Russia was old-fashioned, clinging to outdated great power logic. The world had moved on, they insisted. And inevitably, some “public intellectual” would spice things up with a quote from Chanakya, Confucius, or even the Pope – advising Russia on how real diplomacy should look today.

It was all reminiscent of a famous scene in Aleksei Balabanov’s 2005 movie Dead Man’s Bluff, where a bandit from the polished 2000s lectures his 1990s Russian counterparts: “Why do you keep shooting? Business is done differently now.”

It wasn’t just the Indians who pushed this line. The Chinese, Brazilians, Turks (yes, them too), and other so-called “rising powers” repeated similar mantras.

Now, let’s be clear: no one should gloat. War is a terrifying and extreme manifestation of unresolved contradictions. However, to pontificate about “wisdom” and peace as if it’s a fresh insight is banal – and, frankly, vulgar. Because when real danger arrives – when an enemy or existential threat targets your home – there is no high-minded choice left. States, like individuals, take up arms and fight for victory in order to restore peace. That’s not bloodlust; it’s the basic logic of international relations, from ancient kingdoms to today’s global order. You can deny it, but you can’t make it disappear.

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Western propaganda’s greatest success over the past three years was convincing much of the world that Russia’s offensive was a “war of choice” rather than a “war of necessity” – which it was. Many in the so-called rising powers naively believed that every conflict offers a choice, and that they themselves would never resort to arms. But history teaches otherwise. When survival and national security are truly at stake, even the most idealistic states will – without even realizing it – abandon their slogans and do whatever is necessary. That, too, is a timeless law of international life.

As the Bible reminds us: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

What should Russia do now? Stay the course – finish what we started. And be prepared for new challenges on other fronts. At the same time, we should follow diplomatic protocol and call on India and Pakistan to resolve their crisis peacefully. We can even offer to host peace talks, if needed.

Because while the reality of conflict remains unchanged, so too must our commitment: Victory first. Peace second.

Happy World War Two Victory Day – to us, and to peace.

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It must be quite a burn for Brussels elites when Washington says their most vaunted quality is not as good as they try to make it look

This one stings. When asked how the EU might dodge US President Donald Trump’s tariff hammer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied, “My observation... goes all the way back to [former US Secretary of State] Henry Kissinger’s statement: ‘When I call Europe, who do I call?’ So, we’re negotiating with a lot of different interests.” Translation: You can’t sit with us until you stop fighting at your own lunch table.

Sure, the continent is tripping over its own policies and tumbling down an economic staircase, but at least everyone’s falling in sync. Brussels tightens the “unity” straitjacket, and they all cheer, or risk getting whacked back into line. Unity is the brand. Unity is the product. Unity is the hashtag.

“Only together can we address the grave challenges we face,” unelected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in January 2024.

“It is thanks to all this that in the last five years, Europe has weathered the fiercest storm in our economic history. And we overcame an unprecedented energy crisis.

We did this together, and we can do it again. And we have the political will. Because when Europe is united, it gets things done,” she said in an address earlier this year at the Davos World Economic Forum, explaining how solidarity will help the EU weather the problems created by its own policies.

“The EU’s strength lies in its unity, including when confronted with major health crises. European solidarity, in sharing medical supplies, treating patients or helping repatriate citizens, and in the reconstruction of our economies, helped us to protect our citizens together and overcome the most difficult phases of the pandemic,” she said in 2023 about the Covid fiasco, during which she brokered a non-transparent deal for jabs with her pal, the CEO of Pfizer, via text messages that have since vanished. Contracts which ultimately left EU member states on the hook even after they had no use for the jabs.

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“This 4th Ukraine meeting was another demonstration of European unity,” Queen Ursula posted a month ago on social media. Of course it was. What isn’t?

Even just this week, in evoking fires in Israel and EU assistance, she wrote on social media that it was “EU solidarity in action.”

Unity and solidarity are important to the EU in the same way that the concept of family is important to evoke every time two toddlers want to poke each other’s eyes out with crayons. As in, “you’re supposed to be brothers, so play nice!” All that helps to paper over the unfortunate history of family infighting and battlefield beatdowns.

Enter Scott Bessent, politely suggesting that he’s not impressed by the EU’s unity thirst traps.

And that hits deep. It’s like telling someone that what they think is their very best feature is really their worst. Say, for example, you really love your own butt, have been spending years in the gym doing every kind of squat, lunges, hip thrusts, and you’re so proud of your butt – and then one day, someone you’re interested in is like, “You know, you should really work on those glutes more.” That’s exactly what Bessent’s comment is when he says that the problem with the EU is their lack of unity.

Nothing the US can do about it, he implies – just a little friendly feedback. Back to the gym, Brussels. And Queen Ursula must be fuming since she talks like it’s her best feature and she already spends all day and night obsessing over it. How is she possibly supposed to do more when she’s already maxed out on her unity obsession? Which is all superficial by the way. Her unity-at-any-cost talk really just means that dissent from countries that disagree is quashed. And those dissenters are typically those with ideological views and approaches similar to Trump’s that place their own country’s interests above those dictated by a supranational institution of global governance.

This is some brutal negging on the part of the Trump administration saying basically, look, you’re not as hot as you think you are. So go work on yourself and then maybe get back to us afterwards. Because this is a YOU problem.

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Bessent specially mentioned the wide variation within the bloc when it comes to taxation of digital services. “We want to see that unfair tax on one of America’s great industries removed,” Bessent said. Funny how they can’t agree on that, but have no problem marching in step behind the Digital Services Act, which basically deputizes “fact-checkers, civil society, and third-party organizations with specific expertise on disinformation,” to keep EU internet users “safe and accountable.” When it comes to taxes, the EU is a jazz band. When it comes to censorship, they’re a military parade.

Meanwhile, von der Leyen reportedly tried to book time with Trump at Mar-a-Lago before his inauguration. No dice. Her staff was ghosted by the White House despite blowing up its phone. When she finally caught up with Trump in Rome at Pope Francis’ funeral, it was said to be… not exactly a summit. More like a celeb sighting.

Word is that Trump told her they’d meet. Perhaps just to get her to release his hand.

Other than the fact that Queen Ursula is unelected, unlike all the leaders of individual EU nations with whom Trump has been meeting, why else might he be ignoring the EU’s top boss? Well, maybe it’s the constant scolding. “Global markets are shaken by the unpredictable tariff policy of the US administration,” von der Leyen said this week at a political gathering in Spain. ”My friends, we cannot and we will not allow this to happen. We have to double down on our hallmark policies of open markets of win-win trade and investment partnership, and of free and fair trade.”

Bessent’s whole “fix yourselves first” vibe also lines up with Trump's vice president, J.D. Vance’s stance. According to the UK Independent, Vance reportedly wants future trade deals tied to countries, like the UK, abandoning speech-curbing laws.

So if the Trump doctrine is a world order of free nations over rule by top-down globalist committee, then using trade as a crowbar to pry open authoritarian institutions certainly checks out.

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Friedrich Merz says White House officials have been making “absurd observations” about his country

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has told the US government to “stay out” of his nation’s domestic politics. It comes after Trump administration officials slammed the designation of Germany’s second-largest party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), as an “extremist” organization.

Following the move last week by Berlin’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, US Vice President J.D. Vance said the “German establishment” had “rebuilt” the Berlin Wall. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in turn, declared that the EU’s largest economy has become “a tyranny in disguise” and called upon the German authorities to change course.

Merz, who was elected chancellor only after failing his first confirmation vote in parliament, told the broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday that “absurd observations” were emanating from Washington regarding the treatment of the right-wing party AfD by German authorities.

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The chancellor stressed he “would like to encourage the American government… to largely stay out of” German domestic politics.

The 69-year-old politician noted that he “did not interfere in the American election campaign” last year, which ended with Trump winning a second term in the White House.

He also expressed his belief that US politicians should not support AfD because they “can clearly distinguish between extremist parties and parties of the political center.”

Merz said he is planning a phone call with Trump on Thursday, with their first face-to-face meeting set for the NATO summit in the Hague on June 24 and 25.

When asked about the possibility of AfD being outlawed in Germany altogether, the chancellor said the German government needed to show restraint on the issue. “Ten million AfD voters, you cannot ban them,” Merz argued. He said the ruling CDU/CSU alliance should instead focus on addressing the causes pushing people to vote for the right-wing party.

READ MORE: Berlin hits back over US ‘tyranny in disguise’ claim

AfD demands tighter immigration and asylum laws and opposes the “woke agenda.” It achieved its best ever result in February’s election, clinching 20.8% of the vote and finishing second after CDU/CSU, which got 28.5%. The party filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging the BfV’s decision to classify it an “extremist” organization.

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Kiev will only receive the jets once Belgium gets F-35s from the US, Brussels’ defense minister has said

Belgium will only be able to deliver F-16s to Ukraine “in the years to come,” Defense Minister Theo Francken has said, after his country initially promised to provide Kiev with jets last year. Brussels must first receive its own delivery of F-35s from the US, Francken stated.

Belgium – along with fellow NATO members Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway – pledged in 2023 to arm Kiev with up to 80 F-16s after receiving permission to do so from the administration of then-US President Joe Biden. Last year, Ukraine received about 20 of the aircraft from Denmark and the Netherlands.

Speaking at an event organized by the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington on Tuesday, Francken claimed Belgium was Kiev’s “biggest supporter on the air domain,” despite his country not yet providing Ukraine with any planes.

Brussels is “delivering 30 working F-16s [to Ukraine] in the years to come, as soon as possible,” he added.

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Francken explained the delay by saying that “when we have our F-35s [from the US], we will give the F-16s because we have DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) capacity in Belgium.”

He insisted that Belgium is “very forward leaning” towards Kiev and “will support [Vladimir] Zelensky and every Ukrainian because it is very important.”

Last month, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the country will send two non-operational F-16s to Ukraine to be used for spare parts by the end of 2025.

De Wever also announced that Brussels will provide €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in military support to Kiev annually. According to Francken, the package “will pass the government within a few weeks.”

Last week, the US approved a $310.5 million deal to sustain Ukrainian-operated F-16s, which includes training, spare parts, aircraft modifications, logistics assistance, and software support for the fourth-generation aircraft.

The Defense Ministry in Moscow reported in April that Russian air defenses had shot down an F-16, making it the second confirmed loss of a US-designed jet operated by Ukraine.

READ MORE: US approves F-16 support package for Ukraine

The Ukrainian authorities initially claimed that F-16s would be a game-changer in the conflict with Russia. However, their use in combat has been limited, with the aircraft mainly being deployed away from the contact line for air defense purposes.

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The 6–3 decision allows the Pentagon to discharge current personnel and reject new recruits with “gender dysphoria”

The US Supreme Court has permitted the White House to enforce its ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, overturning a lower court’s injunction and allowing the policy to take effect amid ongoing legal challenges.

The 6–3 decision reinstating US President Donald Trump’s executive order “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” was made on May 6, 2025.

Issued a week after Trump returned to office in January, the executive order prohibits transgender individuals from enlisting and requires the US Defense Department to identify and dismiss all service members who have “a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling lifts a nationwide injunction previously issued by a federal judge in Washington state in March.

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Under the reinstated policy, individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria are disqualified from military service unless they serve in their biological sex and do not seek to undergo transitioning.

The Department of Defense has been directed to implement the policy, which includes halting sex-change operations and other related procedures for transgender service members.

Trump first banned transgender people from serving in the US military in 2017. Former President Joe Biden repealed the ban shortly after taking office in 2021, only for Trump to reinstate it during his second term.

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Since returning to office, Trump has rescinded dozens of executive orders signed by his predecessor, including at least a dozen measures aimed at promoting the interests of racial minorities and the LGBTQ community.

He also issued a formal decree recognizing only two genders – male and female – which, according to the order, cannot be changed. Trump further ended federal support for what he described as the “chemical and surgical mutilation” of children using puberty blockers, hormones, and medical procedures for individuals under the age of 19.

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An F/A-18 has reportedly fallen off the carrier USS Harry S. Truman into the Red Sea – the second in just over a week

The US Navy has lost another fighter jet in the Red Sea, marking the second incident involving an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Harry S. Truman in just over a week, and the third such loss since Washington intensified operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The aircraft reportedly plunged into the sea after experiencing an arrestment failure while attempting to land on the carrier, forcing both the pilot and weapons systems officer to eject. CNN first reported the incident on Tuesday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.

“The arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard. Both aviators safely ejected and were rescued by a helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11,” an unnamed defense official told USNI News. “The aviators were evaluated by medical personnel and assessed to have minor injuries. No flight deck personnel were injured.”

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The incident reportedly occurred the same day the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group “took a shot” at the Truman, though it remains unclear whether the two events are connected. A formal investigation is underway, while the US Navy has yet to officially confirm the details.

Just last week, another F/A-18 fell off the Truman during evasive maneuvers to avoid incoming Houthi missile fire. In a separate incident last December, an F/A-18 was mistakenly shot down by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg shortly after launching from the Truman for bombing raids against Houthi targets in Yemen.

READ MORE: US shoots down own jet while bombing Yemen

Each F/A-18 Super Hornet costs between $60 million and $70 million, according to Pentagon estimates. The Houthis have also claimed to have shot down more than a dozen American MQ-9 Reaper drones over the past year, each valued at approximately $30 million.

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The US has repeatedly clashed with the Houthis since the group began targeting Red Sea shipping in late 2023, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The Truman strike group has launched numerous airstrikes on Yemen as part of a broader US-UK operation.

However, on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would “immediately halt” its bombing campaign, claiming the Houthis had “capitulated” and no longer sought confrontation. Shortly after the announcement, Oman confirmed it had mediated a ceasefire agreement between Washington and the Houthis, with both sides pledging not to target one another in the Red Sea.

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The bombing follows a Houthi missile attack on the Ben Gurion hub outside Tel Aviv

Airstrikes launched by the Israeli Defense Forces have “fully disabled” the international airport in Yemen’s capital Sanaa and hit other targets, the IDF announced on Tuesday.

The series of strikes on Houthi-controlled targets in the country came as a response to the rebel group’s ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday.

”The fighter jets struck and dismantled Houthi terrorist infrastructure at the main airport in Sanaa, fully disabling the airport,” the IDF said. It added that several power stations and a concrete plant were also hit.

Footage circulating online showed thick black smoke rising over Sanaa.

Tuesday’s strikes killed at least three people and wounded more than 30, according to Houthi-run broadcaster Al Masirah. They came less than 24 hours after Israel bombed the port of Hodeidah, killing one person and injuring dozens more.

The broadcaster warned that the latest attacks could worsen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis by disrupting electricity services.

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— ???? ??????? (@TvAlmasirah) May 6, 2025

The airstrikes represent a sharp escalation in hostilities between the IDF and the allegedly Iran-backed Houthis.

On Sunday, a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six and briefly disrupting air traffic. It appeared to be the first time a Houthi projectile had reached the area despite the country’s air defenses. The attack prompted a strong condemnation from Israeli officials.

The Houthis claimed responsibility, calling the strike a response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. They warned of “a comprehensive air blockade” and vowed to “repeatedly target airports,” specifically Ben Gurion.

READ MORE: Israel strikes ‘dozens of targets’ in Yemen (VIDEOS)

The group, which controls much of western Yemen, including Sanaa and Hodeidah, has launched numerous drones and missiles at Israeli territory and Red Sea shipping over the past year. It says the attacks are in support of the Palestinians.

Following Tuesday’s strikes, the Houthis said Israel’s actions “will not go unanswered.”

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The US spy agency has released recruitment videos targeting Chinese officials

Beijing has accused the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of committing a “political provocation” by releasing recruitment videos in Chinese targeting officials in the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the US “has long been using all kinds of despicable methods to steal other countries’ secrets, interfere in their internal affairs and commit subversion.”

The diplomat characterized such attempts as being in breach of “international law and basic norms governing international relations.”

“The US not only maliciously smears and attacks China, but also blatantly attempts to lure Chinese personnel, even government officials, to be their informants,” Lin said. He further pledged that Beijing would “take all measures necessary to resolutely push back infiltration and sabotage activities from overseas and defend national sovereignty, security and development interest.”

The CIA recruitment videos that were published last Thursday solicit covert cooperation from those in China who possess “information about economic, fiscal, or trade policies” or work in the “defense industry… national security, diplomacy, science [or] advanced technology.” The spy agency promised to keep its informants’ identities protected, offering instructions on how to safely make contact.

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Last month, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) released a similar add, targeting CIA officers, titled ‘Your Option: Together for the Truth’. Evoking the camaraderie shared by the US and the USSR during World War II, the video called on CIA personnel to join in resolving the Ukraine conflict, describing the authorities in Kiev as tainted by neo-Nazi influences and corruption.

The video came after the CIA reached out to Russian military engineers through a clip of its own in March.

The US spy agency previously produced several other recruitment videos targeting Russia, appealing to various ethnic and social groups.

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German readers of RT remember how small acts of hope helped them rebuild their lives after the war

The fate of Germans in the aftermath of World War II continues to be a subject of reflection and discussion. The memories are as varied as the people who lived them.

Sadly, the number of eyewitnesses who can share their firsthand experiences is dwindling with each passing year. That makes it all the more important to give a voice to those who are still with us.

RT’s German-language editorial team recently reached out to its readers, inviting them to record and submit their own recollections – or the stories passed down by relatives – about the early postwar years.

From East and West, Germany and Austria, readers shared a broad range of experiences: encounters with Russian soldiers, both positive and negative, and personal reflections on the war itself. These deeply personal letters from our German readers have now been translated into English.

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Letter 1: A warm loaf amid the ruins

I met Red Army soldiers for the first time in 1947, when I was just six years old.

In September of that year, I started school in the city of Chemnitz. As many know, this Saxon industrial city suffered extensive damage due to air raids carried out by British and American forces between February 6 and April 11, 1945. My route to school took me past the ruins that lined the streets on either side.

On one busy street, I often watched a Red Army soldier standing in the middle of an intersection, directing traffic. The soldier stood there regardless of rain and wind, heat and cold.

One day, as I walked home from school, I noticed a crowd gathered around a Russian truck. My curiosity piqued, I edged closer to see what was happening. Two soldiers were handing out... bread! It was freshly baked, still warm, and smelled wonderful.

One of the soldiers spotted me standing off to the side, feeling utterly lost, close to the adults who reached eagerly for the bread. Suddenly, he pointed at me, waved at me and handed me half a loaf. Overjoyed by this unexpected gift, I ran home and gave the bread to my speechless parents.

It was November 1947.

Peter M.

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Letter 2: Cherries and new beginnings

I was born in June 1945, and thus you could say I celebrated the end of the war while still in my mother’s womb. My mother, born in 1921, had managed to get a job as a clerk at the Aviation Testing Center in Rechlin, located north of Berlin. My father, born in 1919, worked there too as a mechanic, repairing planes for the Eastern Front. He held no allegiance to National Socialism or the war itself. As the Soviet army closed in on Berlin, the testing center was disbanded, and my father, along with other able-bodied men, was ordered to go to Berlin.

He didn’t want to support Nazi Germany or be part of the conflict, nor did he wish to throw his life away in the dying throes of a battle already lost. He didn’t want to be forced to shoot others and carry that degrading burden for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, his pregnant wife had to travel alone through perilous roads to get to her in-laws in the relatively safe Sauerland. He wanted to be with her, and dreamed of a new life once the madness of the war was over, hoping to take part in the political revival of his hometown.

As a child, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t too troublesome unless he bumped it hard enough for it to swell significantly. In those moments, he had a desperate idea: to hit his knee with a log to provoke the swelling. When the military doctor examined him, he scribbled a note: “Gefreiter Hesse – to the nearest military hospital.” That played a vital role. He kept his pistol with him, just in case he encountered the “chain dogs” – i.e., the military police. Fortunately, he never crossed paths with them; he rode his bicycle to Schleswig-Holstein, a peaceful region occupied by British troops. There, he changed into civilian clothes and spent a few weeks working on a farm before making his way to the military hospital in Sauerland. He arrived just in time to witness the final days of his wife’s pregnancy and my birth in a hospital that wasn’t destroyed in the war.

In the spring of ‘45, the cherry tree in our garden bloomed uncommonly early, gifting my mother with a big plate of cherries. The hospital bill for her two-week stay, the delivery of the baby, and the week-long stay with the baby amounted to 79.92 Reichsmarks. I still have that handwritten note from the doctor along with the bill. Since then, the cherry tree has never bloomed that early again.

Reinhard Hesse

Letter 3: Rice, sugar, and a lifesaving act of kindness

I’m Austrian, and I’ll turn 80 this November, which means I was born after the war ended. Lower Austria was part of the Russian occupation zone, and we rented a house in the village of Reidling in the Tulln district. The wife of a Russian officer lived in the same house with her young daughter. They occupied just one room, so they were given the best apartment in Sitzenberg-Reidling. This woman saved my life!

When I was only a few weeks old, my mother was devastated to learn that I had a severe intestinal infection. The Russian woman heard about my mother’s plight and sent her a full bag of rice and sugar. My mother sorted through the rice and made me porridge. That saved me. I will always be grateful to that kind and compassionate woman!

Later, as an adult, I learned Russian at language courses offered by Swiss television. I now live in Vorarlberg, near the Swiss border. I needed Russian for my work as a foreign correspondent. I still work in that capacity, though now not with Russia but with Uzbekistan. But my Russian skills still come in handy. Unfortunately, it’s currently impossible to work with Russia due to anti-Russia sanctions. I’ve only been to Russia once – I visited Saint Petersburg to attend language courses.

Saint Petersburg is a dream city! I would love to visit Russia again and see Moscow. I sincerely hope that Western countries will reconsider their absurd Russophobia. Here in Europe, we need to unite with Russia. Bringing together all these diverse and rich cultures, along with their many languages, would be wonderful!

Marie-Louise D.

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Letter 4: Songs, bread, and a friendship across borders

By the time the war ended, I was seven years old, and I started school around Easter of 1944. American troops had entered our hometown of Aschersleben. Before we children could even take a good look at them, they were already gone. Soon after, the Russians arrived. I still remember a Nazi poster depicting a bear in a hat with a red star reaching out to grab a woman with children – that’s how they portrayed the Russians back then.

Later, the Russian soldiers came in trucks, armored vehicles, on foot, and in other transportation. As they passed by our house, they sang. It was clear that these soldiers had gone through the whole war. I didn’t understand the words, but they sounded beautiful in their own way. Fear lingered in our hearts, however.

We were ordered to temporarily host them in our home. My parents cleared out the children’s room, and the three of us moved to our parents’ bedroom. In the children’s room the only furniture that was left was a desk, another table, and a chair.

Then they arrived – two men who, as we were told, were “captains.” Both settled in our room, bringing their own beds with them. Soon, one of them spoke to my mother in flawless German. She was so taken aback that she remained speechless, which was rare for her. He introduced himself as a teacher of German from Omsk. He began asking about the “boy” – meaning me. He mentioned that he had a son back home who was my age. He took me to their room, where a large portrait of Stalin now hung over our table. He explained that this was the commander-in-chief. Both men revered him.

Igor – the teacher from Omsk – was the first Soviet soldier I got to know. He shared stories about his homeland, read me German poems, and sometimes we sang German songs together. He asked me to correct him if he made any mistakes.

Times were tough, and food was scarce. Both officers brought us bread, butter, coal, and potatoes. In winter, my mother heated the room, and my father carried in coal, and sometimes we would eat together. They always asked for hot water for tea. A little over a year later, it was time to say goodbye. They were allowed to return home. Igor gifted me binoculars with an inscription meant to remind me of his friendship.

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At school, we were taught to love the Soviet Union. It felt natural for us to honor the memory of fallen heroes at the cemetery. May 8th was a holiday for us. I was always impressed by Soviet culture. We watched Soviet films, listened to Russian choirs, and learned about amazing Russian artworks from our art teacher.

After finishing school, I acquired a profession and became an active member of the Free German Youth. In 1956, I voluntarily joined the German border police. Occasionally, I encountered Soviet soldiers. The exchange of watches was a significant event for us; every border guard took pride if they owned an “Ural” watch or something similar.

We used Soviet weapons that had been used in the war. They were still reliable. Later, I served in Zeithain and Magdeburg, where I became the commander of a SU-76 tank. During that time, we also maintained contact with the Soviet army, particularly concerning technical support.

Starting in 1978, I attended the political officer training school for the German border police. Admiration for the Soviet Union felt natural to us. We read and heard a lot of stories about Soviet border guards, the significance of the Brest Fortress during WWII, and aspired to emulate our heroes.

Jürgen Scholtyssek, Dresden

Letter 5: A helping hand on the rooftop

Seven years after the final shots of WWII faded away, I was born in Brandenburg. While I didn’t directly witness the horrors of war, I belong to a generation that still saw some of its lingering effects.

In the streets of Frankfurt an der Oder, it wasn’t uncommon to encounter war veterans with missing limbs. They moved about on crutches or navigated three-wheeled carts operated with two wooden levers. Yet, what struck me as even stranger were the massive, ruined, gloomy buildings that loomed over the city.

At six or seven years old, I had no real understanding of what had caused these ruins. In the city center, Soviet soldiers were busy scavenging for building materials. Tracked vehicles used steel cables to pull down the remaining walls of the wreckage. As children, we watched this process with great interest.

One day, those soldiers invited us over. The language barrier didn’t matter; they shared bread and soup with us. It was freshly baked, golden-brown whole grain bread, rectangular and warm.

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When an opportunity arose, one of the soldiers took me up to the roof of a partially destroyed building. The nearly nonexistent staircase in that drafty building didn’t deter us. He firmly grasped my hand and helped me navigate the structure. Up on the roof, where various plants grew in the cracks, I encountered many unfamiliar sights and I remain grateful to him for that experience.

These brief encounters deeply influenced how I perceived the “Russians”. I didn’t sense any hostility, arrogance, or rejection from them. “Mama est?” (Do you have a mother?), “Papa est?” (Do you have a father?), “Brat est?” (Do you have a brother?) were the first Russian words I learned.

Dr. Wolfgang Biedermann, Berlin

Letter 6: Loss, shame, and the search for a better Germany

I was born in January 1947. My family’s military background profoundly shaped my early years. Like many Russian, French, and Greek families, I lost four uncles – my father’s and mother’s brothers – who died as a result of their involvement with the Wehrmacht on the front lines of the German war machine. I also lost several distant relatives. The pain of losing so many loved ones accompanied me throughout my childhood. My father survived the war with severe injuries. For my grandparents and our extended family, the cause of the war was clear: it was, to quote them, the “unhealthy spirit of Hitler” and there was no doubt that we Germans bore full responsibility for the war and the inhumane suffering inflicted upon Europe.

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You ask if the end of the war brought liberation and a fresh start for Germans. It certainly felt like a release—primarily from Hitler and the Allied bombers. We were poor; everyone was poor – but that wasn’t terrifying. The important thing was that the war was over. The “unhealthy spirit of Hitler” and its destructive aftermath remained hot topics of discussion in our family for years. Stuttgart, where we lived, was first occupied by the French and later by Americans, and this had a significant impact on me. As a child, I was terrified of soldiers and would hide from every jeep – they seemed to be everywhere. Today, Stuttgart is home to the headquarters of US European Command (EUCOM) and US Africa Command (AFRICOM), so we still have a strong American military presence.

For the adults in my large family, the fall of Hitler’s regime brought great relief, but it came with a sense of shame: after all, the Nazi regime collapsed not because of the moral strength of the Germans, but as a result of the country’s (well-deserved) defeat in the war. Losing the war didn’t feel like a disaster, but the catastrophe caused by a world war – with its countless victims, suffering, and destruction – was certainly a disaster. In our family, it was often said that if Germany hadn’t lost, Hitler and his accomplices would still be committing their atrocities today.

My father felt strongly that we Germans needed to reconcile with our former “enemies” and seek forgiveness from the victims. He actively participated in this effort. The remilitarization of Germany was firmly rejected, and Adenauer’s policies in regard to the West were met with serious skepticism, even outright opposition. None of those around me wanted to join NATO.

As I grew up in the 1960s, I was shocked to see how many Nazis – protected by Adenauer – still held important positions. Many had escaped accountability and taken on new identities; some were shielded by like-minded individuals despite their criminal past. The judicial system was very slow to carry out justice: many cases were ignored, and numerous investigations stalled.

Then, Fritz Bauer was killed after the Auschwitz trials. Former Nazis could once again hold positions of Chancellor (Kiesinger) and Prime Minister (Filbinger). It seemed half of the older generation had “skeletons in the closet”. This leads to another answer to your question about “liberation”: there was no genuine “liberation” because the perpetrators remained among us.

However, Willy Brandt and Egon Bahr, with their determination and the slogan “We want to dare more democracy” gave us Germans the chance to build a better world. We tried and seized those opportunities, for which I am deeply grateful.

Now, however, former militarism, group intolerance, and a fierce thirst for power have resurfaced once again. War and violence are destroying lives in many parts of the world, once again, the Germans are directly involved. And so, my faith is rapidly fading.

Rosemarie K.

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Hungarians will decide whether to support Kiev’s accession to the EU without external influence, according to the prime minister

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky would like to see a pro-Kiev government in Budapest that will approve his country’s accession to the EU, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed. He has vowed to ensure that Hungarian politics remains free from external pressure.

Ukraine formally applied to join the bloc in February 2022, following the escalation of hostilities with Russia. Membership requires the unanimous approval of all current EU member states.

In a post on X on Monday, Orban’s spokesperson, Zoltan Kovacs, quoted the Hungarian leader as saying during a parliamentary session that “Zelensky wants a Ukraine-friendly government [installed] in Hungary.” Orban further suggested that the Ukrainian leader had reached an agreement with Brussels on Kiev’s accelerated EU accession, and now expects Hungary to rubber-stamp it.

Orban stressed that “there will never be a situation where Kiev or Brussels dictates how Hungarians exercise their rightful sovereignty,” and repeated his arguments that Ukraine’s accession would be ruinous for Hungary’s economy.

He urged Hungarians to take part in Voks 2025, which is a consultative vote featuring a single question: “Do you support Ukraine’s European Union membership?”

Addressing lawmakers in parliament, Orban also accused the opposition Democratic Coalition, whom he branded the “agents of Brussels,” of seeking to “remove Hungary’s national government, bring Ukraine into the EU, drag Hungary into the war [and] unleash migrants on us.”

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Last Friday, the Hungarian prime minister lambasted Brussels’ plans to admit Ukraine into the bloc by 2030 – a target recently referenced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Zelensky responded by citing domestic polling in Hungary and claiming that “70% support Ukraine joining the EU. That means people in Hungary are with us.”

However, the poll conducted by the opposition Tisza Party to which Zelensky referred actually indicated only 58% support, while an earlier survey produced a figure even lower, at 47%.

In a post on X, Orban emphasized that “there is no Ukrainian EU accession without Hungary,” promising that “every Hungarian will have their say on this. Whether you like it or not.”

The Hungarian government has long criticized the EU’s policies on the Ukraine conflict, including weapons deliveries to Kiev and sanctions against Moscow.

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Alberta’s Danielle Smith has said a vote on separation will be held next year if a petition gains enough support

Alberta could hold a public referendum on breaking away from Canada next year if a citizen-led petition gets the required number of signatures, the province’s premier, Danielle Smith, said on Monday.

The western province has long clashed with the federal government over legislation limiting fossil fuel development and promoting clean energy, which Alberta officials say unfairly targets their economy. Smith’s announcement comes days after the Liberal Party secured a fourth consecutive term in the federal election, deepening political divides between Ottawa and oil-rich Alberta.

Following the election, the Alberta Prosperity Project launched a petition calling for a referendum on the province’s independence. The petition garnered more than 80,000 signatures within 36 hours of its May 2 launch and remains open for public support.

“Should Ottawa, for whatever reason, continue to attack our province as they have done over the last decade? Ultimately that will be for Albertans to decide,” Smith said.

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She added that although she does not personally support the idea of separation, she would respect the will of voters. “I will accept their judgement,” the premier said.

Recently, Smith’s government also introduced legislation to lower the threshold for referendums initiated by citizen petition. The bill reduces the number of signatures needed from 20% to 10% of eligible voters from the last provincial election and extends the collection period from 90 to 120 days. In order to pass the threshold, a petition would need about 177,000 signatures.

Smith noted that Alberta doesn’t want “special treatment or handouts;” it just wants to be free to develop its “incredible wealth of resources” and choose how to provide healthcare and education. She expressed hope that secession would not be necessary and that her government would be able to reach an agreement with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s new government.

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Last week, Carney’s Liberal Party retained power after a campaign that focused heavily on what he called the existential threat posed by US President Donald Trump, who has floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st US state and imposed extensive tariffs on most of its neighbor’s goods.

The outcome of the election has added to long-running tensions in conservative regions. In Alberta, where the Conservatives won 34 out of 37 seats, many residents have expressed frustration with their federal leadership. Similar dissatisfaction has been reported in neighboring Saskatchewan, and to a lesser extent in British Columbia.

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The Houthi militia based in the country has “capitulated” and does not “want to fight anymore,” the US president has claimed

Washington will immediately halt airstrikes on Yemen, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday. He made the statement while speaking at the White House alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The order comes after weeks of US-led attacks on Yemen targeting the Houthi militant group, which has “capitulated” and pledged to stop attacks on commercial maritime traffic in the region.

The US president said the Houthi group has told Washington it does not “want to fight anymore.”

“We will honor that and we will stop the bombings. They have capitulated,” Trump stated.

The main goal of the bombing campaign against the Houthis, in which the US and UK took part, was to stop the group from “blowing up ships,” according to Trump.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added, “This was always a freedom of navigation issue. These guys are a band of individuals with advanced weaponry that were threatening global shipping, and the job was to get that to stop.”

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Shortly after the announcement, senior Houthi figure Mohammad Ali Al-Houthi said the movement will continue its support for Gaza, and urged Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to resign over his “crimes” and “failed terrorism.”

“The Yemeni people will not be intimidated by American and Israeli terrorism, and the crimes they have committed in Yemen are the same genocidal crimes they commit in Gaza,” Al-Houthi stated, without addressing Trump’s remarks directly.

The Houthi militia’s attacks on maritime traffic it claimed was associated with Israel, as well as long-range missile and drone strikes on the Jewish state itself, have been the key elements of a campaign to support Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza war.

Later in the day, Oman’s Foreign Ministry revealed that the country had mediated a “ceasefire agreement” between the Houthis and the US.

“In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” the ministry said in a statement.

Trump’s announcement came in the aftermath of an Israeli air raid on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, including the international airport in the capital, Sana’a, which left one dead and 35 injured, according to Yemeni Houthi-affiliated media.

The attack, which forced the airport to close, came in response to a ballistic missile strike on Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The projectile landed outside the airport, injuring six people, briefly disrupting air traffic.

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Unrestricted pathogen research could endanger the lives of Americans, the US president has claimed

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order restricting federal funding for “gain-of-function” research into viruses and other biological agents in the US and abroad, including China.

”Gain-of-function” or “dual use” studies have been gaining controversy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump has suggested that a lab leak in Wuhan, China, where US-funded research was based, was the source of the outbreak that brought the world to a standstill.

Beijing has denied the claims and accused Washington of trying to smear China.

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Unrestricted gain-of-function research could “significantly endanger the lives of American citizens,” among other things, Trump’s order alleges, and lead to “widespread mortality, an impaired public health system, disrupted American livelihoods, and diminished economic and national security.”

Trump ordered an end to federal funding for “dangerous gain-of-function research” in “countries of concern,” such as China and Iran, citing “biological threats”. He argued that US taxpayer-funded research should help Americans, without threatening national security.

Similar US-based programs will be suspended for at least 120 days during which existing policies on dual-use research will be revised or replaced, according to the document.

READ MORE: ‘A lot of people know’ who blew up Nord Stream – Trump

The document also blamed the administration of Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden for allowing “dangerous” research into viruses in the US and “actively” approving funding for similar projects abroad, where Washington’s oversight is limited.

Moscow has repeatedly alleged that US-backed biological research laboratories in Ukraine and other countries near Russian borders are involved in bioweapons research.

Washington has acknowledged providing support to laboratories in Ukraine but insisted that they were owned by Kiev and focused solely on preventing the outbreaks of infectious diseases and developing vaccines.

The Defense Ministry in Moscow has claimed that the US has transferred unfinished Ukrainian projects to post-Soviet states and Southeast Asia, while also singling out Africa as a focal point of Washington’s interests.

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Slovak President Peter Pellegrini will now have to respond to the petition and consider holding a referendum

Activists in Slovakia have gathered nearly 400,000 signatures demanding the lifting of EU sanctions against Russia. The country’s president, Peter Pellegrini, will now have to respond to the petition and consider holding a referendum within a month.

Members of the Slovak Revival Movement (SHO) and the national party DOMOV, who are behind the petition, have submitted the signatures to the office of the president. They want the government to pose the following question to its citizens: “Do you agree that... sanctions against the Russian Federation harm Slovak citizens, tradesmen and entrepreneurs?”

Commenting on the initiative that was launched late last year and has surpassed the 350,000 threshold for consideration, Pellegrini’s office promised to “handle petition sheets strictly in accordance with the law.”

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SHO leader Robert Svec said he expects the president not to ignore the petition and to call for a referendum, citing Pellegrini’s own presumed skepticism regarding anti-Russian sanctions.

In late March, the activists held a conference called ‘For Slovakia Without Sanctions,’ that was attended by a number of politicians and economists.

Speaking at the time, DOMOV leader Pavol Slota claimed that Slovakia’s future depends on whether the sanctions against Moscow will be lifted or not.

“It is about our whole nation, all Slovak citizens,” he stated.

Economist Peter Stanek, in turn, said that “there are dozens of studies that clearly show that sanctions have never worked,” affecting instead “those who imposed them.”

Slovakia implemented the sweeping EU sanctions imposed on Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Robert Fico, who became prime minister in 2023, has maintained that the punitive measures “are not working,” and doing more harm to member states than Moscow.

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US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered the active-duty military to reduce its number of four-star generals and flag officers by 20% in order to improve efficiency.

In a memo, Hegseth announced that the measure would be followed by a second round of reductions of 10% among top officers across all branches of the armed forces, including the National Guard.

The reductions come in addition to the dismissal of more than half a dozen top generals since January, as the administration of US President Donald Trump is trimming excess spending from the federal budget through its newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Announcing the cuts, Hegseth said they would eliminate “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership” and were intended to free the military from “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”

“More generals and admirals do not lead to more success,” Hegseth said in a video posted on X.

“This is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high ranking officers; nothing could be further from the truth,” he added.

Secretary of Defense Hegseth has promoted efforts to eliminate programs and leadership that were put in place to “support diversity in the ranks.” He has sought to remove transgender service members, and has launched broad changes to enforce a single fitness standard for all combat roles.

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The policy is part of Trump’s broader White House effort to eliminate several of the Biden administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government and the military.

Earlier this year, Trump fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, the second African-American commander ever to occupy the post. Brown publicly supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement back in 2020.

As of May 2025, the US military has about 653 active-duty generals and flag officers across all branches, including all ranks, according to data from Southwest Journal. Of those, 44 are four-star generals and flag officers, according to Hegseth.

The US Army has the highest number of generals, with 231, including 11 four-star generals.

Despite the ongoing campaign to cut federal spending, the White House has approved a record defense budget of around $1 trillion, up from the current $894 billion.

China, the world’s second biggest defense spender, has allocated $256 billion for defense in 2025, while the third largest, Russia, has budgeted $157 billion.

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Between uncontrolled migration, propagandistic ideology and self-suffocating green agenda, the EU has only itself to blame for its decline

The European Union, that grand and failing dream of technocrats, is dying. Its decline is not sudden or dramatic but a slow unraveling, a bureaucratic collapse in which every policy designed to sustain it only hastens its demise.

It starves itself on the thin gruel of ideology – open borders dissolving nations into contested spaces, green mandates suffocating industry under the weight of unattainable standards, and a moralizing anti-Russian fervor that has left it isolated and energy-dependent. Once, Europe was the center of empires, the birthplace of civilizations that shaped the world. Now, it is a patient refusing medicine, convinced that its sickness is a form of enlightenment, that its weakness is a new kind of strength. The architects of this experiment still speak in the language of unity, but the cracks in the foundation are too deep to ignore.

Immigration was the first act of self-destruction, the point at which Western Europe’s ruling class severed itself from the people it claimed to govern. The elites, intoxicated by the rhetoric of multicultural utopia, flung open the gates without consideration for cohesion, for identity, for the simple reality that societies require more than abstract ideals to function. Cities have fractured into enclaves where parallel societies thrive, where police hesitate to patrol, where the native-born learn to navigate their own streets with caution. The promise was harmony, a blending of cultures into something vibrant and new. The reality is a quiet disintegration, a thousand unspoken tensions simmering beneath the surface. Politicians continue to preach the virtues of “diversity,” but the people – those who remember what it was like to have a shared history, a common language – are beginning to revolt. The backlash is no longer confined to the fringe. It is entering the mainstream, and the establishment trembles at what it has unleashed.

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Then came the green delirium, the second pillar of Western Europe’s self-annihilation. Factories shutter under the weight of environmental regulations, farmers take to the streets in protest, and the middle class is squeezed between rising energy costs and stagnant wages. The climate must be saved, the leaders insist, even if the cost is economic ruin. Germany, once the industrial powerhouse of the continent, dismantles its nuclear infrastructure in favor of unreliable wind and solar power, only to return to coal when the weather turns unfavorable. There is a madness in this, a kind of collective hysteria where dogma overrides pragmatism, where the pursuit of moral purity blinds the ruling class to the suffering of ordinary citizens.

The rest of the world watches, perplexed, as the EU willingly cripples itself for a cause that demands global cooperation – cooperation that is nowhere to be found. China builds coal plants, America drills for oil, India prioritizes growth over emissions, and the EU alone marches towards austerity, convinced that its sacrifice will inspire others. It will not.

And Russia – the great miscalculation, the strategic blunder that may yet prove fatal. Europe had a choice: to engage with Moscow as a partner, to integrate it into a stable continental order, or to treat it as an eternal adversary. It chose the latter, aligning itself fully with Washington’s confrontational stance, severing ties that had once provided cheap energy and economic stability. The pipelines are silent now, the ruble flows eastward, and Western Europe buys its gas at inflated prices from distant suppliers, enriching middlemen while its own industries struggle. Russia, spurned and sanctioned, turns to China, to India, to those willing to treat it as something other than a pariah. The Eurasian landmass is reconfiguring itself, and Europe is not at the center. The EU is on the outside, looking in, a spectator to its own irrelevance. The Atlanticists in Brussels believed they could serve two masters: their own people and Washington’s geopolitical whims. They were wrong.

In this unfolding drama, America and Russia emerge as twin pillars of Western civilization – different in temperament but united in their commitment to preserving sovereign nations against globalist dissolution. America, the last defender of the West’s entrepreneurial spirit and individual liberty, stands firm against the forces that would destroy borders and identities. Russia, keeper of traditional values and Christian heritage, guards against the cultural nihilism consuming Europe. Both understand that civilizations must defend themselves or perish; neither suffers the death wish that afflicts the Western European elites.

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And of Western Europe? It is a ghost at the feast, clutching its empty wineglass, muttering about “norms” and “values” as the world moves on without it. The European elites still cling to their illusions, still believe in the power of rhetoric over reality. They speak of “strategic autonomy” while marching in lockstep with Washington’s wars, of “diversity” while their own cities become battlegrounds of competing identities, of “democracy” while silencing dissent with bureaucratic machinery and media censorship.

The voters sense the decay. They rebel – in France, where Marine Le Pen’s supporters grow by the day; in Italy, where Giorgia Meloni’s government rejects the EU’s dictates on immigration; in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán openly defies the liberal orthodoxy. Yet the machine grinds on, dismissing every protest as populism, every objection as fascism. The disconnect between rulers and ruled has never been wider. The elites, ensconced in their Brussels bubble, continue to govern as if the people are an inconvenience, as if democracy means compliance rather than choice. The social contract is broken, and the backlash will only intensify.

There is a cancer in Europe, and it is not the right or the left. It is the very idea that a civilization can exist without roots, that a people can be stripped of its history and still remain coherent. The EU was built on the assumption that identity was an accident, that men were interchangeable economic units, that borders were relics of a barbaric past. Now the experiment is failing. The young flee – to America, to Asia, anywhere with opportunity and dynamism. The old huddle in their apartments, watching as their neighborhoods change beyond recognition. The politicians, insulated by privilege, continue to lecture about “tolerance” and “progress,” oblivious to the rage building beneath them.

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The great realignment is already underway. The Atlantic widens; the Eurasian landmass stirs. America and Russia, for all their rivalry, understand power in a way Western Europe has forgotten. They build, they fight, they act decisively. The EU deconstructs, hesitates, agonizes over moral dilemmas while others seize the future. The 21st century will belong to those who can face it without illusions, who can say “we” and mean something concrete, who can defend their interests without apology. Western Europe, as it exists today, is incapable of this.

Perhaps the EU will linger for years yet, a hollowed-out institution shuffling through summits and issuing directives that fewer and fewer obey. But the spirit is gone. The people feel it. The world sees it. Historians will look back on this era as the funeral of liberalism – a slow, self-inflicted demise by a thousand well-intentioned cuts. The creators of this collapse will not be remembered as visionaries but as fools, as men and women who prized ideology over survival.

And when the last bureaucrat turns out the lights in Brussels, who will mourn? Not the workers whose livelihoods vanished for the sake of carbon targets. Not the parents afraid to let their children play in streets that no longer feel like home. Not the nations that surrendered their sovereignty to a project that demanded their deconstruction. Only the living corpses of the elites will remain, muttering to each other in the ruins, still convinced of their own righteousness.

But righteousness is not enough. The world has always belonged to those who are willing to fight for it – and Old Europe has forgotten how to fight.

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The leader of the Christian Democratic Union party had unexpectedly fallen short of the 316-vote threshold earlier on Tuesday

Friedrich Merz has been elected as German chancellor following a second Bundestag vote on Tuesday. The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) had initially fallen six votes short of the required 316-vote threshold earlier in the day, but hours later rallied conservatives and allies in the country’s parliament to win 325 votes.

The situation is unprecedented in Germany’s post-war history, as no prospective chancellor had previously failed to be voted through by the Bundestag at the first try after securing a coalition agreement.

Merz faced opposition from 289 MPs, many of them from the Left and Green parties, who voted against the 69-year-old.

The second vote took place after four factions agreed to alter parliamentary procedures to avoid delays. According to Politico, urgent closed-door meetings were held in between the votes.

Addressing lawmakers before the second round of voting, CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn told them that “all of Europe, perhaps even the entire world, is watching this second round of voting.”

“I appeal to everyone to be aware of this special responsibility,” he said, as quoted by broadcaster ARD.

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Commenting on Merz’s initial failure, one of the leaders of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party faction in the Bundestag, Bernd Baumann, said: “Mr. Merz, you have failed. This is a historic defeat, the likes of which have never been seen in this Bundestag before.”

Green Party politician Renate Kuenast spoke of a “massive loss of authority” for the incoming chancellor, as quoted by broadcaster ZDF.

Left Party parliamentary leader Christian Goerke characterized the situation as a “crushing defeat” for Merz, attributing it to a “truly poor coalition agreement [between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats] that fails to address the major problems facing this country.”

Germany’s previous three-way ruling coalition led by the SPD fell apart last November amid internal disputes on spending. The new CDU-SPD coalition has pledged to continue key elements of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s agenda, including support for Ukraine and unlocking a constitutional debt brake to further boost the military budget.

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The move follows the university’s rejection of US government demands for policy changes

The administration of US President Donald Trump has blocked new federal research grants to Harvard University, saying the school must meet a list of White House demands first.

The decision marks the latest escalation in a broader clash between the administration and top US universities over their response to pro-Palestinian protests. Since taking office, Trump has ramped up pressure on campuses to tackle alleged anti-Semitism and roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

In a letter posted on Tuesday on X, Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon accused Harvard of “serious failures” in anti-Semitism, racial discrimination, academic rigor, and viewpoint diversity.

“Harvard University has made a mockery of this country’s higher education system,” McMahon wrote, adding that it “should no longer seek” federal funding “since none will be provided.”

The letter said Harvard would need to enter talks with the government and show it had complied with the administration’s demands to regain eligibility for new grants.

Harvard responded on Tuesday, saying it “will continue to defend against illegal government overreach.”

Dear @Harvard: pic.twitter.com/XmMimXfkX0

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) May 5, 2025

Trump has targeted Harvard over claims of anti-Semitism tied to pro-Palestinian protests, which erupted after Israel’s offensive in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack. More than 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the local health ministry. The protests intensified as Washington continued supplying weapons to Israel.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has launched a review of nearly $9 billion in federal funds for Harvard and demanded the university ban DEI programs, restrict pro-Palestinian groups, and prohibit masks at protests.

Harvard rejected the demands, accusing the White House of trying to “control” its campus. It sued the administration over the suspension of around $2.3 billion in funding and pledged to combat discrimination internally.

In its lawsuit, the university warned the cuts could have “real-life consequences” for students and researchers and could jeopardize medical and scientific work.

READ MORE: Trump freezes over $2bn in Harvard funding over ‘non-compliance’

Harvard has a $53 billion endowment – America’s largest – but much of it is restricted for specific purposes such as financial aid and scholarships.

The Trump administration has also suspended federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern.

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The EU and NATO are promoting Russophobia in the style of Goebbels’ propaganda, Sergey Shoigu has said

Moscow must crush Nazism, which has resurfaced in the West in recent years, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has said.

On Tuesday, ahead of the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War – Russia’s term for the 1941-1945 Soviet war against Nazi Germany – Shoigu emphasized the “enormous price” paid by the USSR in defeating Nazi Germany.

“The multinational people of Russia have learned well the lessons of the Great Patriotic War against fascism,” Shoigu wrote in Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The secretary served as defense minister from 2012 to 2024. He mentioned nearly 27 million combat deaths and 6.5 million additional deaths from starvation and disease during the war against the Nazis.

“Today we are obliged to do everything to defeat the resurrected Nazism,” Shoigu stressed. This imperative has “determined one of the main goals” of Moscow’s Ukraine campaign.

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“The European elites, who are being incited and patronized by London and Paris, continue to make loud statements about inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia... NATO and the EU have launched programs aimed at preparing the collective West for a direct military conflict with Russia,” he said.

Those “aggressive steps” by the West “are being justified by Russophobic fabrications – in the best traditions of Goebbels’ propaganda,” the security chief stressed, referring to Joseph Goebbels, who was Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister from 1933 to 1945.

“In order to avoid a repetition of the horrors of the war years, there is an urgent necessity to protect the country from a variety of external and internal threats” by further boosting the military, developing the economy and investing in science and education, he said.

READ MORE: ‘Real de-Nazification’ would include all Europe – Medvedev

In late April, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, also insisted that “a real de-Nazification is required. Nazism needs to be rooted out not only in Ukraine, but in all of Europe.”

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The two countries may face each other later this year, Brazilian media have reported, citing the national football confederation

Brazil has agreed in principle to play a soccer friendly against Russia this autumn, local media reported Monday. Russia is currently barred from official FIFA and UEFA tournaments due to the Ukraine conflict.

Journalist Galvao Bueno of the Band.com.br news outlet revealed a letter from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) dated August 2024, confirming that it had accepted an invitation from the Russian Football Union (RFU) to play a match in Moscow in 2025.

The confederation has reportedly informed Russian officials that the Brazilian national team would be available during the FIFA international match windows from October 6 to 14 and November 10 to 18.

“We believe that collaboration between the Brazilian Football Confederation and the Russian Football Union will be fundamental to strengthening ties and further enhancing the global football ecosystem,” the CBF reportedly wrote.

“The national team board will be mobilized to work towards holding the aforementioned game,” it added.

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The correspondence signals Brazil’s willingness to schedule the match, although no official agreement has been reached. Details including dates, venues, and logistical arrangements reportedly remain under discussion.

Both federations are expected to continue negotiations in the coming months. If confirmed, the match would mark a rare meeting between the two national teams outside of official tournaments. The last time the two teams played each other was in March 2018 ahead of the World Cup in Russia, when Brazil recorded a 3-0 win at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

CNN Brazil later reported that it had contacted an unnamed representative of the CBF who denied the organization having any plans to hold a match against Russia in football or any other sport.

The Russian national football team has maintained an unbeaten record since its suspension from international competitions in February 2022. In the past three years, Russia has played a series of friendly matches, securing victories against countries such as Cuba (8–0), Serbia (4–0), Belarus (4–0), Vietnam (3–0), Brunei (11–0), Syria (4–0), Grenada (5–0), and Zambia (5–0).

Despite Russia’s ban from official competitions, FIFA has continued to award ranking points for the friendly matches, contributing to Russia’s climb to 34th in the world rankings.

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The US president has claimed that America won both World Wars, prompting a backlash from Russia

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to designate days commemorating America’s victory in the First World War and Second World War as national holidays.

The proposal, first floated last week, is part of Trump’s call to “start celebrating our victories again,” although Russia dismissed his claim that the US won WWII as “nonsense.”

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump claimed that America “won two World Wars, but we never took credit for it,” unlike other Allied nations around the world, which are celebrating “the Victory we had in World War II.”

He went on to reiterate that “the Victory was only accomplished because of us,” adding that “without the United States, the War would have been won by other Countries, and what a different World it would be.”

Trump stated that he would establish a national holiday “in celebration of the victories of World War I, marked by the Armistice on November 11, 1918, and World War II, with Victory Day on May 8, 1945.”

Last week Trump asserted that the US “did more than any other country, by far” to win World War II, claiming “nobody was close to us in strength, bravery, or military brilliance” in either war.

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Trump’s claims that America played the leading role in defeating Nazi Germany sparked controversy. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of his country’s Security Council, dismissed the remarks as “pretentious nonsense,” emphasizing the Soviet Union’s sacrifice of 27 million lives in the war.

General Lord Dannatt, former chief of the UK General Staff, called Trump’s remarks “extraordinary” and accused him of “rewriting history.”

Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allies on May 8, 1945, after Soviet forces captured Berlin. The surrender took effect after midnight Moscow time. While the US observes May 8 as Victory in Europe Day, Russia commemorates the occasion on May 9.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Russia’s gratitude for US support during World War II but maintained that the Soviet Union would have defeated Nazi Germany without it. He noted that the Lend-Lease program provided valuable aid, such as vehicles, aircraft, ammunition, and tanks, which helped make a difficult task more manageable.

The Lend-Lease program was a US initiative that supplied Allied nations with military equipment, food, and raw materials. According to Peskov, the Soviet Union received aid valued at around $200 billion in today’s terms. However, the support wasn’t free. Russia, as the USSR’s successor, only completed repayment in 2006.

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A Paris court has ordered suspended prison terms and fines for the cyberbullying of Thomas Jolly, who staged the infamous Last Supper parody

Seven people have been sentenced in France for the cyberbullying of Thomas Jolly – the artistic director of the LGBTQ-themed opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Last year’s games opened with a controversial spectacle that included what was perceived as a recreation of Leonardo DaVinci’s ‘Last Supper’ featuring drag queens, homosexuals, transsexuals and a pro-obesity activist in the role of Christ.

The show was condemned by Christians across the world, as well as Muslims, many of whom expressed their frustration on social media. Several days after the event, the production company behind the ceremony, Paname 2024, complained that its employees were getting harassed online and had received death threats.

Jolly, who has insisted that the scene was not inspired by the ‘Last Supper’, also filed a complaint claiming was the target of “homophobic and anti-semitic threats and insults.”

In October, French authorities arrested seven people, including one woman, who were accused of writing hateful messages targeting Jolly that included posts like “degenerate Jew,” “slut,” “God will not forget you” and “you will pay for having disrespected our Lord Jesus Christ.”

On Monday, the Paris Criminal Court found the seven individuals guilty of “repeated death threats, cyberbullying and aggravated insults based on sexual orientation or real or supposed religious affiliation” against Jolly.

The court imposed suspended fines of €2,000 to €3,000 ($2,260-$3,395) and suspended prison sentences of two to four months and ordered the defendants to pay one euro in damages to the artistic director.

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The seven defendants, aged between 22 and 79, will also have to complete a five-day citizenship course, the court ruled. The X accounts of two of the accused individuals will also be suspended for six months.

Their posts came amid a wave of backlash to the Olympic opening ceremony from the Christian world, with the Bishops’ Conference of France claiming that it “mocked and ridiculed” the faith. The Vatican also said it was “saddened” by the ceremony and that it offended many Christians and believers of other religions.

The Russian Orthodox Church stated at the time that the performance represented a “counterculture of godlessness” that has emerged in the center of Europe. The head of the church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, also said it was evidence of the “de-cultivation” of moral values and the “downward trajectory of the spiritual-cultural component of Western civilization.”

The outcry over the event ultimately forced the International Olympic Committee to apologize and delete the video of the opening ceremony from online streaming platforms.

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Germany’s main political parties have failed to elect an agreed candidate as chancellor in a historic moment for the EU nation’s politics

A proposed coalition of Germany’s liberal and conservative parties has failed to elect a chancellor in a German parliament first round vote.

Frederich Merz, the Christian Democratic candidate who was also backed by the liberal SPD, garnered 310 votes on Tuesday, falling six short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority. The session was adjourned for consultations among political groups regarding their next steps.

According to German media, the vote failure marks the first time in Germany’s post-war history that a chancellor candidate has been thwarted in such a manner.

Merz’s proposed coalition, comprising his CSU/CDU bloc and the German Social Democrats (SPD), holds 328 seats in the Bundestag.

Should Merz – or potentially another candidate – fall short in a second round held within two weeks, the procedure would go to a simple majority vote, after which the German president must appoint the winner as chancellor or dissolve the legislature.

READ MORE: Labeling the AfD ‘extremist’ will backfire terribly

Germany’s previous three-way ruling coalition led by the SPD collapsed last November due to disagreements over spending. The new proposed coalition has pledged to continue key elements of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s agenda, including support for Ukraine and unlocking a constitutional debt brake in militarization.

Last week, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as “extremist.” The right-wing, anti-migrant movement is currently polling on par with the Christian Democrats for voter preference in a potential federal election. The AfD’s leaders have claimed that the “extremist” designation was politically motivated and aims to undermine the party’s rising popularity.

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The US president indicated that he does not believe claims that Russia destroyed its own pipelines

US President Donald Trump has dismissed claims that Russia was behind the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines and suggested that the true culprit is widely known – without naming names.

Speaking at a White House press event, Trump said there was no need for a formal investigation to uncover who carried out the attack, which crippled a key energy route between Russia and Western Europe.

Three of the four Nord Stream pipelines, built to deliver Russian gas to Germany and the rest of Western Europe, were damaged by blasts at the bottom of the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

On Tuesday, a correspondent for libertarian financial blog ZeroHedge, which has been admitted to White House press events under the new administration, noted that Trump had previously rejected the Western narrative that Russia blew up its own pipelines, and asked the president if he was planning to initiate a probe to find out who was actually behind the attack.

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“If you can believe it, they said Russia blew it up,” Trump responded. “Well, probably if I asked certain people, they would be able to tell you without having to waste a lot of money on an investigation. But I think a lot of people know who blew it up,” he added, without elaborating.

ZeroHedge suggested that Trump’s comment meant that “based on classified intelligence he knows exactly who was behind” the destruction of Nord Stream. It also “should put the ‘Russia destroyed its own vital and economically lucrative pipeline’ storyline to rest,” the outlet insisted.

In early February 2023, veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a report claiming that then US President Joe Biden had given the order to destroy Nord Stream. According to an informed source who talked to the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, the explosives that were detonated on September 26, 2022 had been planted at the pipelines by US Navy divers a few months earlier under the cover of a NATO exercise called ‘Baltops 22’. The White House denied the report, calling it “utterly false and complete fiction.”

READ MORE: Trump to hit non-US films with 100% tariff

Senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have previously pointed the finger at the US as the possible culprit behind the Nord Stream explosions. They have argued that Washington had the technical means to carry out the operation and stood to gain the most, considering that the attack disrupted Russian energy supplies to the EU and forced a shift to more expensive US-supplied liquefied natural gas.

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The air raid comes a day after a Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport

Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen in retaliation for the rebel group’s ballistic missile strike on Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that around 20 fighter jets participated in Monday’s operation, dropping at least 50 munitions on “dozens of targets,” including the Hodeidah port complex and a concrete factory in Bajil.

The IDF described the targets as critical to the Houthis’ military logistics, alleging that they served as conduits for Iranian arms shipments.

According to Yemeni sources, the strikes resulted in at least one death and 35 injuries. Rescue operations were still ongoing as of Tuesday morning, with authorities searching for possible victims trapped under the rubble.

The air raid came one day after a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six people and temporarily disrupting air traffic.

Fresh footage shows the Israeli strikes on the Houthis cement factory in Bajil.

This is a massive factory and heavy blow. pic.twitter.com/orv0YA1hTy

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 5, 2025

It was the first time a Houthi projectile had reached the vicinity of Israel’s main international airport, prompting strong condemnation and threats of retaliation from officials.

Two people were killed as Israel launched 50 air strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port region and a cement factory, local media report. The strikes followed a missile from Yemen that hit Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/Vu2ma62fXc

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 5, 2025

“Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport and, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, blaming Tehran for orchestrating the assault.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today at the Air Force command center at the Kirya during the attack on Houthi terrorist regime targets in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/iTX6nrOuSz

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 5, 2025

The Houthis, who control much of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the port of Hodeidah, have launched numerous drones and missiles at Israeli territory and commercial vessels in the Red Sea over the past year. The group says its actions are in support of Palestinians and in protest of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

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The Houthis have also warned of a “comprehensive aerial blockade” on Israel if it proceeds with a renewed offensive in Gaza. Despite the warning, Israel reportedly approved a plan on Monday for the full military occupation of Gaza and the forced relocation of its Palestinian population to the territory’s southern areas, according to multiple media outlets.

Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to escalate strikes against the Houthis, warning that the group would be “completely annihilated” unless it ceases its attacks. Washington and Israel have both accused Iran of arming and directing the Houthis, though Tehran has denied the allegations.

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The United States did not directly participate in the latest Israeli airstrikes, but coordinated closely with Israel, a senior US official told Axios journalist Barak Ravid. Another official cited by Al Jazeera did not rule out the possibility that non-lethal support was provided.

Separately, US forces conducted their own airstrikes on Monday, reportedly targeting Houthi positions near Sanaa, an unnamed US official told the Associated Press.

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President Donald Trump has warned that anyone who rejects the offer will never gain a legal path to return

The US government will offer illegal migrants a $1,000 stipend and free commercial airfare if they voluntarily leave the country, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday.

The policy allows eligible individuals to signal their intent to depart via the CBP Home app. Participants will be deprioritized for detention and, upon confirmation of their voluntary departure, will receive the financial incentive.

President Donald Trump emphasized the benefits of the program, stating that some participants might be eligible to return legally in the future. “We’re going to work with them so that maybe someday, with a little work, they can come back in – if they’re good people, if they’re the kind of people that we want in our country, industrious people that love our country,” he said during a White House event on Monday.

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“And if they’re not, they won’t… If they miss that limit, they’re going to be taken out of our country, and they will never get a path to come back in. And it’ll be a much tougher process,” Trump warned.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the initiative as the “best, safest, and most cost-effective way” for undocumented immigrants to avoid arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), urging them to “download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport.”

DHS estimates that traditional deportation procedures cost taxpayers an average of $17,121 per individual. In contrast, the self-deportation program is projected to reduce costs by approximately 70%, lowering the average expense to about $4,500 per person – even after accounting for the stipend and travel assistance.

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During his re-election campaign last year, Trump repeatedly promised to “stop the invasion of illegals” and begin the “largest deportation operation” in US history. In the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, ICE arrested more than 150,000 illegal immigrants and deported over 139,000 of them, according to a fact sheet published by the White House last month. The administration aims to reach one million deportations within its first year.

Trump has also increased border enforcement hiring and has denied federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions, though some of his deportation measures continue to face legal challenges. He has declared a national emergency, authorizing the deployment of armed forces to help secure the border.

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The US president insists Catholics “loved” the joke

President Donald Trump has dismissed criticism over a viral AI-generated image depicting him in papal attire, insisting the backlash is being driven by the “fake news media,” not the Catholic community.

The digitally altered image, which shows Trump wearing a white papal robe, gold crucifix, and mitre, was posted on his Truth Social platform and the official White House account on X on Saturday. The post followed Trump’s recent remarks joking about becoming the next pope after Pope Francis’ death on April 21.

The image sparked mixed reactions online, with some finding it humorous and others calling it inappropriate. Addressing the controversy on Monday, Trump rejected claims that Catholics were offended.

“Oh, I see. You mean they can’t take a joke? You don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

FOX NEWS: Some Catholics were not so happy about the image of you looking like the Pope

TRUMP: You mean they can't take a joke? You don't mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it. I had nothing to do with it. Maybe it was AI. pic.twitter.com/6dvyhGTLHQ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 5, 2025

He added that he had no role in sharing the image: “Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope, and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI, but I know nothing about it. I just saw it last evening.”

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Trump said First Lady Melania Trump found the image amusing. He then joked, “Actually, I wouldn’t be able to be married, though… To the best of my knowledge, popes aren’t big on getting married, are they?”

Despite Trump’s claim that “Catholics loved it,” some church leaders expressed disapproval.

Bishop Robert Barron said it “was a bad joke that obviously landed very poorly and was seen as offensive by a lot of Catholics.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, commented, “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that... It wasn’t good.”

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Trump and Pope Francis had a long history of disagreement, especially on immigration. In a letter to US Catholic bishops earlier this year, the pope criticized Trump’s mass deportation policies as a “major crisis” that undermines human dignity.

Their tensions date back to 2016, when Francis said anyone who builds walls instead of bridges is “not Christian” – a remark widely interpreted as a rebuke of Trump’s proposed border wall.

President Trump and the First Lady attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome on April 26. It was Trump’s first overseas trip since returning to office in January. The Vatican has confirmed that the papal conclave to elect a new pope will begin on May 8.

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The former child porn researcher had subjected his daughter to years of sexual abuse

A child rapist who worked for five years with the Western OSINT agency Bellingcat killed himself shortly before he was due to be imprisoned, recently published Dutch court documents reveal.

The operative, known under the alias Daniel Romein, took his life in 2022 after being sentenced to prison for sexually abusing his own daughter.

Romein had been involved in the investigation of the MH17 crash by the Western-funded “open-source intelligence” group, as well as in the Stop Child Abuse initiative, dedicated to geolocating explicit materials involving minors.

The news was first made public by independent Dutch journalist Eric Van De Beek last month, and the surrounding events were further explored in a piece released by The Grayzone last Friday.

Van De Beek said that Romein hadn't died from “cardiac arrest” in December 2022 as previously reported, stating a close friend had confirmed that the ex-Bellingcat operative had taken his own life.

The researcher, who worked for Bellingcat between 2014 and late 2019, was sentenced to 36 months in prison earlier that year for prolonged sexual abuse of his daughter, the journalist claimed, citing an anonymized court case on the matter. The case was released by Dutch authorities only in March of this year after repeated inquiries by independent media, Van De Beek noted.

The case details the way the defendant abused his daughter when she was between six and 10 years old, which involved oral sex, genital rubbing, and other sexualized behavior.

The events, which took place roughly between October 2011 and October 2016, only came to light several years later, when the girl told her mother and stepfather.

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The court materials quote a lackluster letter of apology sent by the defendant to his daughter when the scandal became public, in which he appeared to blame her.

The case also revealed that the defendant had been convicted of possession of child pornography “over 15 years” prior.

Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins, when questioned by The Grayzone, denied that Romein’s firing in December 2019 had been related to his criminal past.

However, the group’s founder “tacitly acknowledged” that the researcher had been the target of sexual abuse allegations. “It is not clear whether the [court] judgment is about Mr. Romein, as it is anonymized,” he told the outlet in a mailed statement.

In August 2021, Romein was stripped of his European Press Prize, which had been awarded for his work on the Stop Child Abuse project. At the time, the Netherlands-based non-profit cited “unidentified substantiated complaints” from different individuals as the reason for its decision.

When asked by The Grayzone if the complaints were related to sexual abuse, Higgins stated they were due to the researcher’s “unacceptable online behavior.”

Despite advertising itself as an investigative group specializing in fact-checking and open-source intelligence, Bellingcat has received funding from several Western governments.

This has raised questions about its credibility, and Moscow contends that it works closely with Western intelligence services to “put pressure on either [Russia] or individuals and entities.”

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Reddit is considering suing the University of Zurich for using chatbots to sway users’ opinions on hot-button topics

A major Swiss university has come under fire for running a secret experiment on users of social media platform Reddit to test how artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to influence their opinions. The platform has said it is considering legal action.

According to media reports, a group of researchers at the University of Zurich in recent months conducted an unauthorized study on r/ChangeMyView, one of Reddit’s largest debate communities. The experiment involved AI chatbots posing as regular users and engaging in discussions on controversial issues.

The bots, whose accounts have since been banned, posted more than 1,700 comments across the subreddit. They adopted fake identities such as a male rape victim downplaying the trauma of his assault, a Black man opposing the Black Lives Matter movement, and a domestic trauma counselor claiming the most vulnerable women were those “sheltered by overprotective parents.”

Another bot was used to scan user profiles and deliver personalized arguments in response.

The researchers disclosed the experiment to subreddit moderators several months after it had taken place, calling it “a disclosure step in the study.”

In a statement posted last week, Reddit’s moderator team has said the platform prohibits the use of undisclosed AI-generated content or bots. Reddit’s chief legal officer, Ben Lee, said neither the company nor the r/ChangeMyView moderators had prior knowledge of what he called an “improper and highly unethical experiment.” He added that Reddit was preparing formal legal demands to send to the University of Zurich and the researchers involved.

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The researchers said the study had been guided by principles of “ethical” research and transparency. The university ethics committee had argued that the research had caused little harm. Still, users on the subreddit reacted with shock and anger over being unknowingly experimented on.

The journal Science cited an emailed university statement as saying the researchers have decided not to publish the results. The university said it would investigate the incident.

The use of AI bots – fake accounts designed to mimic real users – has grown steadily across social media platforms in recent years. Experts say they are increasingly used to shape public opinion, particularly around elections.

Western governments, primarily the US and the UK, have long accused Russia of operating large-scale ‘bot farms’ to interfere in their election processes – accusations Moscow has repeatedly denied. However, some Western actors have come under scrutiny themselves for using bots in disinformation campaigns, while publicly warning about foreign interference.

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Xi Jinping will visit Russia at the invitation of Vladimir Putin and will attend the celebrations marking victory over Nazi Germany

Historians seldom completely agree with one another even on some of the most important events of the past. There are different views on various historical events, such as World War II (WWII). With new documents being declassified and new excavations at the sites of the main battles, we are likely to see new theories and hypotheses emerging that will feed more discussions and offer contrarian narratives of the most devastating military conflict in the history of humanity.

However, there is a clear red line between looking for new facts and deliberately trying to falsify history. The former is a noble quest for truth and understanding, while the latter is a deplorable attempt to revise past events in favor of political goals or personal ambitions.

An honest scholar entering a research project cannot be completely sure what will be found at the end of the road; an unscrupulous politician presenting a falsified version of history knows perfectly well what picture to present to the target audience. Truth is skillfully mixed with lies, while fabrications are dissolved in real facts to make the picture more credible and attractive.

The most graphic manifestation of the WWII falsifications is the now very popular assertion that Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were jointly responsible for the beginning of the war.

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The narrative equating Nazis and Soviets is nonsensical because it completely ignores the history of fascism in Europe and repeated attempts by Moscow to convince London, Paris and Warsaw to form an alliance against it. Only after the “Munich Betrayal” by the West, the 1938 pact among Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy that forced Czechoslovakia to cede territory to Germany without Czechoslovakian consent, did Moscow decide to go for a non-aggression treaty with Germany to buy itself time before invasion.

Likewise, the dominant Western narrative of WWII increasingly frames the conflict as a stark moral battle between good and evil. As a result, there is a growing reluctance to fully acknowledge the pivotal roles that Russia and China played in the defeat of Nazi Germany and militarist Japan.

Neither do they recognize the contributions of communist-led resistance movements in countries like France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Greece. This is largely due to ideological biases that exclude these groups from the dominant narrative of “heroic liberal forces” in the fight against the Axis nations, the coalition led by Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Instead, the predominant view in most Western countries credits the US as the primary force behind victory, along with limited support from other allies. This reading of WWII has nothing to do with reality, but it nicely fits the now popular Manichean interpretation of world politics.

Another typical distortion of history is the selective portrayal of the victims of the war, often shaped by a distinctly Eurocentric perspective. Much attention is given to the atrocities endured by Europeans under Nazi occupation or by Europeans in Asia at the hands of the Japanese, while the immense suffering of non-European populations frequently receives far less recognition.

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Every human life is of equal value, and all victims deserve empathy. Even those who served in the German and Japanese armed forces during WWII should not be indiscriminately labeled as criminals; the notion of “collective guilt” must not override the principle of individual responsibility for verifiable war crimes.

However, it is often overlooked in contemporary Western discourse that the Soviet Union and China suffered the heaviest human cost of WWII – with casualties reaching 27 million and 35 million, respectively. A significant portion of these losses were civilians, and the scale and brutality of wartime atrocities committed on Soviet and Chinese territories far exceeded those experienced in most other regions.

Contemporary politics inevitably shapes how we interpret the past, as people often seek historical narratives that align with their present-day beliefs and agendas. Yet history should be approached with integrity, not as a tool to justify current political positions. This is not about defending national pride or preserving comforting myths; every nation, regardless of size or wealth, carries both moments of honor and episodes of regret in its historical journey. A balanced national narrative includes both triumphs and failures.

But when history is deliberately manipulated to serve short-term political interests, we risk blurring our understanding of the present and undermining our vision for the future. Such willful distortion is not only intellectually dishonest but could also lead to grave consequences.

This article was first published by CGTN.

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Marcel Ciolacu has stepped down after a shock presidential rerun that saw right-wing firebrand George Simion take the lead in the first round

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced his resignation and effectively disbanded the country’s pro-EU ruling coalition, after a Eurosceptic right-wing candidate emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of presidential elections.

With over 95% of votes counted in Sunday’s presidential vote rerun, George Simion, leader of the right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is projected to secure 40.52% of the vote, according to the news site G4 Media. He is well ahead of his pro-EU challengers, former Senator Crin Antonescu and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who both hovered slightly above 20%.

Addressing reporters at his party’s headquarters on Monday, Ciolacu acknowledged that “our coalition has failed to meet its stated objective.”

“I saw the vote cast by Romanians yesterday, and it shows that the coalition, at least in its current form, lacks legitimacy. That is why I have decided that we must leave the coalition, and accordingly, I am submitting my resignation,” the official stated.

The PSD party will also abstain from backing either candidate in the second round of the presidential election slated for May 18. Antonescu, who had been supported by the ruling big tent coalition, comprised of the Social Democrats, the liberal PNL party and the Hungarian minority party UDMR/RMDSZ, failed to secure a place on the run-off ballot.

The “stated objective” Ciolacu referenced likely refers to the coalition’s 2024 campaign promises of stability and pro-EU continuity.

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Following the dissolution of the ruling coalition, cabinet ministers are expected to continue serving in an interim capacity for the next 45 days until a new majority emerges after the second round of presidential elections.

Simion is a vocal critic of the European Union, which he has described as a “greedy and corrupt bubble,” and has taken aim at Brussels-mandated immigration and energy policies in particular. While on the campaign trail, the right-wing politician clarified that he favors a “Europe of sovereign nations, not a federal superstate,” and also spoke in defense of “traditional values” in contrast to “globalist ideologies,” represented by LGBTQ and gender ideology.

While insisting that he is not pro-Russian, Simion has opposed weapons deliveries to Ukraine, calling for a negotiated settlement.

In November 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) blacklisted him over “systematic anti-Ukrainian activities.” Neighboring Moldova also banned the Romanian politician after he labeled it an “artificial country” with no chance of ever joining the EU.

The presidential election rerun was held after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of a vote held in November, in which independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu received 23% of ballots cast. The authorities cited “irregularities” in his campaign, as well as intelligence reports claiming that Russia had meddled in the election – an allegation Moscow has strongly denied.

In March, the Central Electoral Bureau barred Georgescu from running again, citing his alleged “extremist” stance and a failure to comply with electoral procedures.

Simion has publicly supported Georgescu, arriving together with him at a polling station on Sunday.

“We are here with a single mission: to restore constitutional order and democracy,” the AUR candidate told reporters.

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The popular opposition party has been blacklisted, a big step down the slippery slope towards a total ban

Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (literally, the Federal Office for Protecting the Constitution), has released a bombshell: Based on a report of over a thousand pages, the Verfassungsschutz has classified the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party as “confirmedly right-extremist.” Or, to translate from bureaucratese, “extreme-right.” That means that the AfD is now officially tagged as hostile to the constitutional order of Germany.

Regional branches of the party as well as its former youth organization have been given the same label before. The party as a whole has been formally labeled a “suspect case” (Verdachtsfall) for years, which already allowed the Verfassungsschutz to spy on it. This new classification now is not yet a prohibition. It is more akin to an extreme form of official blacklisting: In practical terms, the AfD can still contest elections, citizens can still vote for it, and its candidates can still represent them.

It is also not a crime to be a member of the AfD; there are currently about 51,000. At the same time, members who are also public servants, for instance in the police, may well face individual assessments of their loyalty to the state.

Conveniently, the Verfassungsschutz has not published the report underlying its finding. But its key allegations against the AfD have been advertised widely: Due to its – very real and often brutal – xenophobic rhetoric, the AfD stands accused of systematically offending against human dignity, an ideal explicitly protected as “inviolable” by the very first article and first paragraph of the German constitution (formally known as the Basic Law).

More broadly, the AfD, the Verfassungsschutz argues, advances an ethno-chauvinistic – to translate the almost untranslatable German adjective “völkisch” – concept of the German population that discriminates against those who are not or not entirely of ethnic German descent. That is – full disclosure – Germans such as me, for instance. That as well, the domestic intelligence experts charge, is not compatible with Germany’s constitutional order.

That Germans can, for now, still vote AfD does not mean that the Verfassungsschutz’s new move is a formality. On the contrary, it is a grievous and misguided escalation, in three ways: It allows the government to boost spying on the AfD by surveillance and informers to the maximum. In principle at least, it greatly stigmatizes the party in the public sphere. Finally, if a formal procedure to achieve a full prohibition were to be initiated, then its chances of success have now increased.

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Little wonder then that the AfD has already announced that it will fight the new classification in the courts. It is hard to predict its chances of overturning it. For one thing, last year the AfD lost a similar case – if with lower stakes – when it contested its prior Verfassungsschutz categorization as “suspect.”

It’s little wonder also that some political opponents of the AfD are already loudly clamoring for fresh attempts to fully ban the AfD and remove it from German politics by brute suppression. “If you can’t beat them, snuff them” might as well be the motto of those AfD rivals.

For, despite silly claims to the contrary, the escalating attack on the party is inevitably political and does reflect the AfD’s massive recent success: with 25 percent and more, the AfD is now often the strongest single party in German polls; it did very well at the last federal elections, taking second place with almost 21 percent after the mainstream conservatives; it has a large parliamentary presence of 152 seats, doubling its previous weight. It is, by far, the largest and most important opposition party. Many Germans will, rightly, see the current moves against the AfD as a political abuse of legal norms – in short, lawfare – to hamstring or destroy a political rival that has become too threatening.

Some German mainstream politicians, including the always extremely cautious Olaf Scholz, are more reticent. Scholz, notoriously, is the man who smiled sheepishly when Washington let the world know it would take out Germany’s Nord Stream pipelines; he also denies the Gaza genocide, while Germany is supplying Israel with arms and political support. Scholz, in other words, is the opposite of a courageous hero. And yet, his hesitence about going for a full ban on the AfD makes sense.

Because, in simple practical terms, notwithstanding the Verfassungsschutz classification, that, too, would be an undertaking with an unpredictable outcome. Fortunately, German law makes it difficult to completely prohibit a party: Only three institutions can start the legal process – parliament, the federal council (the upper chamber, representing Germany’s states), and the federal government in Berlin – and only the country’s constitutional court can decide such a case. Similar hurdles would have to be overcome to deprive the AfD of public funding, another demand currently made with fresh force by its opponents.

If there were an attempt to prohibit the AfD and it failed, the only party profiting from it would be, obviously, the AfD: it would then be able to claim both the mantle of martyrdom and victory over the deep state and its lawfare. Like Donald Trump recently in the US, the AfD has an in-built capacity to politically profit from persecution that its enemies underestimate at their peril.

Even if a prohibition attempt were to succeed, simply abolishing a party that a quarter (and counting) of German voters are supporting would, of course, trigger enormous, justified frustrations and a massive popular backlash. But there are even more – and more fundamental – reasons why both the current ostracizing of the AfD and a potential full ban are very bad ideas.

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First, various commentators and politicians have already pointed out that the industrial-strength blacklisting now applied to the AfD is likely to buttress the so-called “firewall,” that is, in essence, the abysmal policy of all other parties to rule out the AfD as a coalition partner, that is, to systematically exclude it from government no matter how many Germans vote for it. In practical terms, this means that, in terms of both numbers and real – if denied – ideological affinity, the AfD, not the SPD, should be forming a government with the CDU now: The firewall already has momentous distorting effects on election consequences, and all Germans can see it.

The firewall also means that by now more than a fifth of German voters are, in effect, partly disenfranchised and treated as second-class voters and thus second-class citizens. That’s because their votes clearly are deprived – deliberately and, as it were, by definition – of a power that all other votes have, namely, to potentially influence not only the composition of parliament but that of government as well.

The firewall is, in other words, not something good democrats should be proud of; it is a blatant form of massive discrimination. What makes this particularly harmful is that the AfD is dominant in what used to be East Germany. Hence, discriminating against it and its voters means, inevitably, discriminating not only politically, which is bad enough, but regionally as well, along the worst possible fault line in all of Germany.

Consider, for instance, how not only but especially AfD voters or members in the former East Germany must feel, when they hear CDU politician Marco Wanderwitz claim that the AfD “ must be eliminated“ because as long as it is around “to fill up” voters (all Wanderwitz’s own bizarre terms) with its ideology, those same voters cannot be reclaimed by “democracy.” It’s hard to imagine a more patronizing and demeaning statement. Good luck, Germany, with riding out the polarizing effects of such approaches, combining the obviously unfair with the obnoxiously offensive.

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Second, it is true that significant parts of the AfD – not merely a fringe – are far or extreme right. But, even if that may be counterintuitive too many, to fight the party with lawfare is still principally – not only pragmatically – wrong, because all German mainstream parties – as well as much of the AfD, by the way – support come-what-may a very far-right Israeli regime that has been stomping on that famous human dignity for decades and has been committing a live-streamed genocide since late 2023. It is ludicrous, peak hypocrisy to stand by apartheid-genocidal Israel in foreign policy but try to blacklist or even forbid the AfD domestically.

Third, all too few Germans seem to be aware that the whole idea of protecting democracy by aggressively identifying those accused of not supporting it and then marginalizing and suppressing them has a very dark history. Instead, the simplistic tale Germans are told again and again by their leaders and mainstream media is that this ideal of so-called “militant democracy” is the correct post-World War Two response to the manner in which the Nazis came to power in 1933. As if that so-called ‘seizure of power’ had not been most of all the outcome of a conspiracy – in practice, not ‘theory’ – of small traditional elites.

‘Militant democracy,’ on the other hand, was actually tried out already during World War II; not, obviously, in Nazi Germany but in the US, under the direct influence of the recognized and usually venerated intellectual father of the concept, the German émigré Karl Loewenstein.

Regarding those who think that ‘militant democracy’ can do ‘merely’ political and not very concrete, brutal harm, they should urgently read up on this first experiment in Loewensteinian democracy ‘defense.’ For Loewenstein did not just theorize, argue, and lobby. As American historian Udi Greenberg has long shown in his book “The Weimar Century” and a shorter online article, Loewenstein inspired and played an important role in a long international US campaign to identify and suppress alleged “subversives” in the Western hemisphere.

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Carried out under Washington’s leadership in several countries of Latin America as well, this campaign ended up surveiling, incarcerating, and deporting thousands, without due process or appeal, simply by administrative fiat. At its peak stood literal, now mostly forgotten – unlike the better-known case of the World War II persecution of Japanese Americans – concentration camps on US soil.

And – surprise, surprise – many of the victims were, of course, innocent. Indeed, Greenberg found that US officials knew they “posed no security threat” and that “only a tiny minority” among them were even politically active in any way. What the preponderant majority was repressed for was not what they had done – nothing – but who they were or, in the eye of over-eager and over-empowered security bureaucrats, seemed to be. The same American officials also knew that many arrests were really “motivated by racism or greed, with internal reports mentioning “policemen’s plans to take over the prisoners’ houses.”

Finally, to reach peak absurdity, US officials were aware from internal reporting that the victims of their campaign included Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany, now absurdly targeted as enemy agents. If you have never heard about this extensive practical test of the concept of ‘militant democracy,’ guided by its intellectual godfather himself, and its extremely dark outcomes, then ask yourself why.

Germany may end up prohibiting its biggest, most important opposition party – in the name of “democracy.” This would be a new milestone in the EU’s relentlessly escalating – Romania, France, even Moldova, which is not even a member yet – authoritarian campaign to bend voters to the will of radical-Centrist establishment parties that monopolize the notion of democracy and thereby undermine, even destroy whatever is left of its reality. Whether you like AfD politics or not – I do not, not at all – you should understand that the real if insidious threat to democracy comes from those waging lawfare against it.

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The German foreign ministry has rejected US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks that it was wrong to brand the AfD party as extremist

Germany’s foreign ministry has rejected US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claim that Berlin’s designation of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as extremist amounted to “tyranny in disguise.”

Rubio on Friday criticized Germany’s domestic security service (BfV) for branding the AfD as a “confirmed extremist entity” and called on Berlin to reverse the move. The foreign ministry responded by saying “this is democracy,” and defended the move as a measure to protect the rule of law.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said, as quoted by AFP, that “the insinuations contained (in Rubio’s comments) are certainly unfounded.”

Rubio has said that it is not the AfD that is extremist, but rather the “establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies,” which the German party opposes.

The BfV has previously warned of a threat to the country’s democratic order, saying the AfD’s anti-immigration party “disregards human dignity.” The party has rejected the classification, calling it unlawful.

The party was founded in 2013 amid a backlash against Germany’s handling of the eurozone debt crisis. It has since shifted focus to demanding tighter immigration and asylum laws and opposing the “woke agenda.” The party is also critical of NATO and has staged protests against sending weapons to Ukraine.

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The AfD finished second in the federal elections in February, winning 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag. Last month, it topped opinion polls for the first time, with 26% support.

The BfV’s classification allows authorities to conduct surveillance on the party without restrictions.

On Monday, the AfD filed a lawsuit with an administrative court in Cologne, where the BfV is headquartered, according to DPA news agency.

The court challenge comes as Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz, whose party won the February elections, is set to be chosen as Germany’s chancellor, replacing Olaf Scholz. Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU union and the Social Democrats (SPD) party signed a coalition deal on Monday, clearing the way for a new government to be sworn in on Tuesday.

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Alexander Dobrindt made the remark after the country’s domestic security service officially labeled the right-wing party “extremist”

Incoming German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has spoken out against banning the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, days after the country’s domestic security service (BfV) officially designated it a “confirmed extremist entity.” Several other senior center-right politicians have echoed his opinion.

While the BfV’s decision announced last Friday grants the authorities the unrestricted right to surveil the AfD’s activities, the power to declare a party unconstitutional lies exclusively with the Federal Constitutional Court.

Speaking to Germany’s ARD broadcaster on Sunday, Dobrindt said, “I am convinced that the AfD doesn’t have to be banned out of the way,” but rather consigned to insignificance through good governance. He also called for an open discussion over the reasons that the AFD has become so popular.

In a snap election in February, the right-wing party came in second, behind the center-right Christian Democrats. Recent polls show the two parties neck-and-neck, with one survey by the Forsa Institute putting the AfD one percentage point ahead.

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Also on Sunday, Dobrindt told broadcaster ZDF that a ban on the party’s activities would only reinforce its narratives.

In an interview with Bild over the weekend, CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann said that “most voters vote for the AfD out of protest,” adding that “you can’t ban protest.”

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann argued that an entity being extremist does not necessarily mean that it can be banned right away. He further criticized politicians who have been quick to demand an AfD ban even before the BfV has issued its full report into the party’s activities.

In explaining its decision last week, the agency cited the “extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity,” as well as the AfD’s “prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent.” The latter is said to be “incompatible with the democratic basic order.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, dpa news agency quoted Daniel Tapp, a spokesperson for AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, as saying that the party is filing a lawsuit against the BfV in the administrative court in Cologne.

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The reported plan includes the forced relocation of Palestinians and occupation of the territory

The Israeli government has approved a plan for the complete military occupation of Gaza and the forced relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to the southern part of the territory, multiple news outlets have reported citing unnamed officials.

According to officials quoted by the AP, the new plan is meant to help Israel achieve its war aims of defeating Hamas and freeing the hostages held in Gaza. Israel says the militant group is holding 59 captives, although about 35 are believed to be dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted unanimously in favor of the strategy during a meeting on Monday morning, two sources told the media. Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Eyal Zamir has also announced the mobilization of tens of thousands of additional reservists.

“The plan will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection,” an Israeli official stated, as quoted by Agence France Presse.

The move likely will lead to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, which could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis, the AP reports.

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Zamir announced the mobilization on Sunday, emphasizing that more troops were necessary to “increase pressure” on Hamas. The elimination of the militant group is the declared aim of the Israeli offensive, in retaliation for a Hamas-led incursion into Israel in October 2023.

The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities in Israel and the abduction of dozens of hostages. Israeli bombardments have claimed over 50,000 lives in Gaza, predominantly civilians.

Israel has faced accusations of indiscriminate bombings, deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply due to an Israeli-imposed blockade, leading to severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and other essential resources. International organizations have expressed grave concern over the crisis and its impact on the civilian population.

In February, US President Donald Trump advocated the “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to countries such as Jordan and Egypt, saying that it would allow the enclave to be transformed into a resort zone.

While many countries have condemned Trump’s proposal, Netanyahu called it a “remarkable idea” that should be “pursued.”

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The decision has thwarted the expected resumption of operations at Voice of America

A US appellate court has rejected a ruling that would have re-opened the government-funded media outlet Voice of America (VOA) after it was shuttered by US President Donald Trump.

In March, Trump cut funding for the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization that oversees several entities delivering Washington’s messaging to foreign audiences. In April, a federal judge in Washington issued an injunction requiring the government to continue financing VOA and its affiliates.

On Saturday, however, the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit sided with the government’s argument that the district court lacked jurisdiction over USAGM’s personnel and funding matters. The 2-1 ruling said the Trump administration “is likely to succeed on the merits” in the ongoing litigation.

Judge Cornelia Pillard dissented, warning that the stay order “all but guarantees that the networks will no longer exist in any meaningful form by the time this case is fully adjudicated.”

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USAGM senior advisor Kari Lake praised the outcome, posting on X, “Turns out the District Court judge will not be able to manage the agency as he seemed to want to.”

Earlier in the same day, the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RsF), which is advocating for the preservation of VOA, celebrated what it called a “victory against the Trump administration” on Saturday. RsF referenced a message from USAGM informing that the accounts of “1,406 employees and contractors” had been reactivated and that VOA programming is expected to resume “next week.”

The Trump administration seeks to cut excess government spending in order to address chronic federal budget deficits. In the first 100 days of his second term, the US president ordered the suspension of various agencies involved in foreign policy operations, which his cabinet accused of funding excessive projects and harboring potential corruption.

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The launch suggests the armed forces are prepared “to thwart any aggression,” officials have said

The Pakistani military has successfully test launched a Fatah series short-range surface-to-surface missile, according to the country's armed forces press service.

Monday’s launch was the second such event in three days, and comes as tensions between Pakistan and neighboring India remain high following last month’s deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir.

The test launch of the missile, which has a range of 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) was “aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy,” according to a statement from The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The Fatah missile series is a family of domestically developed surface-to-surface guided rocket systems produced by Pakistan’s state-owned defense conglomerate, Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS).

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The event “was witnessed by senior officers of Pakistan Army” who “expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness… of Pakistan Army to thwart any aggression against the territorial integrity of Pakistan,” added the statement.

On Saturday, Islamabad successfully tested a surface-to-surface missile called the Abdali Weapon System, which has a range of 450km (280 miles). Both missile tests were part of a military drill named Exercise Indus.

India has not officially commented on the tests yet. However, the Hindustan Times reported before the first drill that New Delhi had condemned the planned Pakistani ballistic missile test as a “reckless act of provocation.”

The escalation between Islamabad and New Delhi came after terrorists gunned down 26 civilians in the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination in Indian-administered Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

The Resistance Front, which is suspected to have links to the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, first took credit for the attack but later appeared to retract its claim. Indian authorities have named three individuals as suspects; two of them are Pakistani citizens.

Following the incident, India accused Pakistan of supporting armed militants involved in cross-border operations—an allegation that Pakistan has strongly rejected.

Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the country’s armed forces “full operational freedom” to respond to the terrorist attack.

READ MORE: Putin calls Modi and condemns Kashmir terror attack

Both nations have expelled diplomats, closed airspace, and engaged in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), a military demarcation line that divides the two nations.

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Hollywood is dying a “very fast death,” the US president has claimed

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would impose a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, marking the first time his restrictive trade policies have been extended to the entertainment industry.

In his post on the Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the American film industry was dying a “very fast death” due to incentives offered by foreign countries to lure US filmmakers.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs, culminating in his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs introduced on April 2. They target more than 90 US trade partners. Most were paused for 90 days, though a baseline 10% remains in effect. China was excluded from the pause and was hit with a tax of 145% on all imports. Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs and new export controls on US goods.

Trump said he had directed agencies, including the Commerce Department, to begin “immediately” imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films entering the US.

“We’re on it,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X. It remains unclear, however, whether the measure would target foreign studios, US companies filming abroad, or both.

The US president also framed foreign film productions as a national security threat, asserting that other countries were using cinema as a vehicle for “messaging and propaganda.”

“WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he declared.

Trump’s post came after weekend meetings at his Mar-a-Lago Club with actor Jon Voight and his manager, Steven Paul, Bloomberg said citing people familiar with the matter. They reportedly presented the president with their plans for more federal tax incentives for US film and TV production.

In January, Trump appointed Voight, along with actors Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone, as special ambassadors to Hollywood to help promote US job growth in the entertainment sector.

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Hollywood production has been increasingly shifting overseas, as countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expand tax incentives to attract film and TV projects.

Film and television production in Los Angeles has declined by nearly 40% over the past decade, according to FilmLA, the region’s film office.

The trend has contributed to a decline in US-based shoots, with studios seeking lower costs and bigger rebates abroad. According to Ampere Analysis, global content spending is expected to hit $248 billion in 2025, driven largely by streaming platforms – further fueling the push for more affordable production hubs.

Trump’s move follows China’s decision last month to “moderately reduce” the number of Hollywood films permitted in the country, a retaliatory step against his aggressive tariff policies.

William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce official and CSIS fellow, warned that retaliation against Trump’s film measures could be devastating.

“We have a lot more to lose than to gain,” he told Reuters, adding that justifying tariffs on national security or emergency grounds would be difficult.

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The US president has said top Western officials are urging him to maintain communication with the Kremlin

US President Donald Trump has claimed that EU leaders are imploring him to engage diplomatically with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the Kremlin allegedly refuses to respond to their calls.

The Russian government had been open to engaging with EU leaders, notably German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who reached out to Putin last November. Kiev criticized Berlin for the move, which it labeled a form of appeasement towards Russia.

Trump emphasized his role as a mediator during an interview with NBC News on Sunday, stating, “Do you know that the European Union leaders have asked me to call Putin so many times? Because he doesn’t return their phone calls.”

The Trump administration is acting as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine in an effort to broker an end to the ongoing conflict. Most European NATO members have pledged continued military support to Kiev. Some have discussed potential troop deployments to the region, rejected outright by Moscow.

He remarked that his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, had not reached out to Putin at all, seemingly referencing the period following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Trump said his administration is “closer with one party, and maybe not as close with the other,” regarding a peace agreement, without specifying which is which.

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Moscow has consistently expressed a desire to resolve its differences with the West through diplomatic means, although its proposals concerning NATO expansion in Europe were dismissed in 2021.

Russia aims for an indivisible security framework in Europe, where the safety of one nation cannot come at the expense of another, Putin stated during a government meeting in February.

“We understand that not everyone welcomes the revival of Russian-American contacts. Some Western elites are intent on perpetuating global instability, and those forces will attempt to undermine or sabotage our dialogue,” he added.

In March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for publicly stating his willingness to talk directly with Putin but never acting on it.

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The Ukrainian leader realizes Washington still needs him and he is becoming more authoritarian, Aleksandr Dubinsky has said

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is testing America’s tolerance for abuses of power by sanctioning his critics, jailed Ukrainian MP Aleksandr Dubinsky has said.

Last week, Zelensky announced measures targeting his former top adviser Aleksey Arestovich, historian Konstantin Bondarenko, who published a biography of the Ukrainian leader, titled “The Joker,” and several other journalists and political analysts. Penalties have included asset freezes, restrictions on trade and financial transactions, travel bans and the revocation of state awards.

“By imposing sanctions against media people and political scientists, Zelensky is also testing the US tolerance for his dictatorship,” Dubinsky, who was detained by Kiev authorities in November 2023 on charges including high treason, wrote in a post on Telegram on Sunday.

The fact that the restrictions were announced a day after the signing of the minerals deal between the US and Ukraine was no coincidence, he suggested.

Zelensky is trying to find out “if there will be any reaction” to such a move from Washington when “the agreement is signed, but not yet ratified” by Ukraine’s parliament, the ousted legislator wrote.

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The deal, which was agreed upon on Wednesday after months of difficult negotiations, established a joint investment fund and gave the US preferential access to Ukraine’s natural resources.

The American security guarantees which Zelensky’s government had been demanding were not part of the agreement, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal.

“Furthermore, Zelensky is also needed to sign the peace treaty [with Russia]. This gives him the opportunity to test the limits of what is allowed. Europe is satisfied with him, and the US seems to be satisfied with him now too,” Dubinsky stressed.

The Ukrainian leader sees the situation as an opportunity to get rid of his political opponents, he added.

Legislators from Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, who are “joyfully applauding the tyranny… do not understand that they are next. A dictator does not need fellow travelers, he only needs a show of force,” the MP wrote.

READ MORE: Ukraine exhibiting ‘classic terrorist behavior’ – Russian Foreign Ministry

Zelensky remains in power in Ukraine despite his presidential term officially expiring last May. He canceled the election citing the martial law he had imposed due to the conflict with Russia. In mid-April, the Ukrainian leader prolonged the emergency measures another three months.

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The president envisions an expanded facility to house the “dregs of society”

US President Donald Trump has said he plans to revive Alcatraz Island’s historic role as a maximum-security federal penitentiary.

The US requires a place for the “dregs of society,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Sunday, as his deportation initiatives continue to face opposition in the courts.

Originally constructed as a military fortress off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz served as a correctional facility for nearly 30 years before its closure over six decades ago, subsequently transforming into a popular tourist destination.

Trump said he had instructed the Department of Justice “to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”

“We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally,” Trump proclaimed, describing the impending conversion as a “symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.”

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Having campaigned for the presidency with a promise to deport illegal migrants, Trump has encountered resistance from the courts, which interpret his administration’s procedures as violations of due process rights.

Positioned in a remote location around 2km off the Californian coast, Alcatraz – often referred to as “the Rock” – is notorious for its supposed inescapability. Of 36 inmates who attempted to flee, none were confirmed to have succeeded, though five remain listed as “missing and presumed drowned.”

The structure atop the island was initially erected in the 1850s as a military citadel to safeguard San Francisco Bay. The Department of Justice assumed control in 1933, utilizing it as a prison until 1963. The culturally significant landmark, regarded as a symbol of governmental pushback against rampant crime in the early 20th century, was eventually deemed too expensive to maintain compared to similar facilities.

Today, Alcatraz stands as a designated National Historic Landmark, attracting over a million visitors annually, with the National Park Service overseeing its management. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes the island, dismissed Trump’s announcement as “not a serious one.”

Later in the day, the president told journalists that reopening the prison was “just an idea I’ve had.”

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The US president indicated that he wouldn’t allow exceptions for power generation

US President Donald Trump has said he wants Iran to completely scrap its nuclear program, as negotiations between the two countries have been postponed.

The president was asked by Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday whether he was aiming to limit or completely abolish Iran’s nuclear program.

“Total dismantlement. Yes, that is all I would accept,” Trump said. He questioned the necessity of the Islamic Republic having nuclear technology for electricity generation.

“They have so much oil – why do they need it? … Civilian [nuclear] energy often leads to military wars. And we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple deal,” he said.

“I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed,” Trump added.

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He made his remarks after Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi announced that the fourth round of indirect, mediated US-Iran talks, planned for Saturday, had been postponed indefinitely “for logistical reasons.”

The negotiations, previously described by both sides as constructive, have been overshadowed by tensions in Yemen, where the US and Britain have ramped up airstrikes against the Houthi militants.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate after a Houthi ballistic missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv on Sunday, injuring eight people.

The Houthis said they were aiming for a “comprehensive air blockade” of Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Iran denied directing the attacks, calling such claims “misleading.”

Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 UN-backed deal on Iran’s nuclear program during his first term in office, accusing the Islamic Republic of secretly violating the agreement. Tehran has denied any wrongdoing but has since rolled back its own commitments under the deal and increased its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned last month that the country would resist any “pressure and threat” from the US.

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Francesca Albanese has insisted the bloc official as well top diplomat Kaja Kallas “will have to be judged“

The EU leadership should be held accountable for supporting Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese has said.

In an interview with The Intercept published on Saturday, Albanese singled out European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas.

“The fact that the two highest figures of the EU continue business-as-usual engagements with Israel is beyond deplorable,” she said.

“I’m not someone who says, ‘History will judge them’ – they will have to be judged before then. And they will have to understand that immunity cannot equate with impunity,” the UN expert added.

Albanese said she has been working on a report exposing the role of institutions and organizations – including banks, pension funds, tech companies, and universities – in crimes against the Palestinian population of Gaza.

“All those implicated and involved in the unlawful occupation, in providing it with support, are aiding and abetting violations of international law and human rights violations, and a number of these amount to crimes,” Albanese said. “There can be individual responsibility and individual liability for those who have been aiding and abetting or enabling such crimes.”

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Albanese has repeatedly urged von der Leyen to use her powers as head of the EU executive to stop the “genocide” in Gaza. She also criticized Kallas for not pressuring Israel to end its military operation during her visit to Tel Aviv in March, when the diplomat said “both sides lose” in the conflict.

“A shocking low for the EU: one of its top leaders stands with Israel’s foreign minister, representing a state responsible for killing 50,000 people (in 16 months), 70% women and children, with Western-made weapons,” Albanese wrote on X at the time.

The UN official claimed she and her family have faced death threats since she released a report in March 2024, insisting that Israel’s actions should be classified as genocide.

European Commission spokeswoman Gioia Franchellucci told The Intercept that Brussels was committed to international law, and that the bloc’s relationship with Israel allows officials to express their “positions and concerns.”

“The association agreement with Israel is the legal basis of our ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities, and it provides mechanisms to discuss issues and advance our points of view,” the spokeswoman said.

West Jerusalem launched its operation in Gaza following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during which militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and took around 250 hostages. Over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict broke out, according to the enclave’s health authorities.

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Right-wing candidate George Simion is leading in the polls with more than 40% of the votes

George Simion, a critic of the EU who has been banned from entering Ukraine, won the first round of the rerun of the Romanian presidential election on Sunday.

With more than 95% of the ballots counted, Simion, the leader of the right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), received 40.52% of the votes, according to the news website G4 Media.

Former Senator Crin Antonescu and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, both known for their pro-EU views, each received a little over 20%.

“This is not just an electoral victory, it is a victory of Romanian dignity. It is the victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country,” Simion said after the exit polls were published, according to Reuters.

The vote took place after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of the election held in November, in which independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu received 23% of the votes.

The court cited “irregularities” in Georgescu’s campaign, as well as intelligence reports claiming that the Kremlin had meddled in the election. Moscow rejected these claims of interference at the time as “anti-Russia hysteria.”

In March, the Central Electoral Bureau barred Georgescu from running again, citing his alleged “anti-democratic” and “extremist” stance, as well as a failure to comply with electoral procedures.

On Sunday, Georgescu and Simion arrived at a polling station together. “We are here with a single mission: to restore constitutional order and democracy,” Simion told reporters.

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In November 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that Simion had been blacklisted for his “systematic anti-Ukrainian activities, which contradict the national interests of Ukraine and violate its state sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Simion argued that he was targeted because of his “promotion of historical truth” among the Romanian minority in western Ukraine. He was also banned from entering neighboring Moldova, which he labeled “an artificial country” that “will never join the European Union.”

Simion has opposed the delivery of weapons to Kiev. “We will not send military aid to Ukraine, and that doesn’t make us pro-Russian,” he told reporters last year.

He has also criticized EU bureaucrats. “The EU is a remarkable project that brought peace to Europe after centuries of war, but Brussels has become a greedy and corrupt bubble,” according to the politician.

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The Russian foreign minister told Islamabad that Moscow is ready to assist in mediating if both countries agree

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has discussed the escalation of tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi in a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Lavrov expressed Moscow’s willingness to support peaceful efforts to ease the tensions. “The Russian side emphasized its readiness to assist in the political resolution of the situation that arose after the April 22 terrorist attack in the Pahalgam area, if there is mutual interest from Islamabad and New Delhi,” the ministry said. The statement added that the call took place at Pakistan’s request.

On Saturday, Lavrov spoke to his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar. According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov urged “a settlement of disagreements between New Delhi and Islamabad by political and diplomatic means” on a bilateral basis in accordance with the provisions of the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration, which are historical frameworks under which the two South Asian countries previously agreed to resolve disputes diplomatically.

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According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, during the call Dar rejected India’s “baseless allegations and inflammatory rhetoric against Pakistan” and condemned New Delhi’s “illegal move” to hold the water treaty in abeyance.”

The nuclear-armed neighbors have witnessed a sharp nosedive in already strained ties after a terrorist attack in southern Kashmir left 26 civilians dead. The terrorist attack occurred in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory on April 22.

Following the attack, India took a series of measures against the neighboring country, including expelling some Pakistani diplomats, cancelling visas of Pakistani citizens, and closing the land border. It also suspended parts of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty that governs water sharing with Pakistan. On Saturday, New Delhi announced a set of further measures aimed at downgrading already severed trade ties with Pakistan.

Pakistan has responded with its own countermeasures and warned of further escalation. Islamabad last week claimed that it has “credible intelligence” that India intends to launch military action against it, and has said it is prepared to respond. The two countries have reportedly exchanged gunfire for ten consecutive nights along the Line of Control in Kashmir.

Read more

India has accused Pakistan of supporting the militant group allegedly behind the Kashmir attack, reiterating its long-standing claim that Islamabad supports cross-border terrorism and uses terrorism as a tool.

Islamabad has denied India’s claims. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that his country itself was a victim of terrorism in the region stemming from the policies of Western governments, particularly the US, tracing back decades, starting with the Soviet-Afghanistan war in the late 1980s. The minister admitted his country had previously done “dirty work” by “training and indoctrinating jihadists on behalf of the West.” He, however, called it a mistake and said Pakistan now bears the consequences of previous policies.

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The US president has ruled out seeking reelection in 2028, stating he would prefer “a great Republican” to carry forward

US President Donald Trump has ruled out running for office for a third term, suggesting he would like “a great Republican” to succeed him.

The president made the remarks on Sunday in an interview with NBC News when asked about repeated suggestions he might seek reelection. Such a move would require a major overhaul of the US electoral system, given the presidential terms are limited to two only by the US Constitution.

Trump claimed that while “many people” want him to run for office again, he will not seek reelection. He also appeared to question the nature of the restrictions on the number of terms.

“So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that. But it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do. I don’t know if that’s constitutional, that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else,” he said.

The earlier remarks on the matter sparked fears that Trump could ultimately opt to rewire the whole US electoral system to try and stay in power. Multiple high-profile Republicans, however, have insisted the president was only joking about a third turn.

Read more

The concerns were reinforced by the emergence of a new line of ‘TRUMP 2028’ merchandise on his official campaign store last month. The store offers baseball caps and T-shirts, featuring ‘TRUMP 2028’ and ‘Rewrite the Rules’ slogans.

The US president appeared to distance himself from the merchandise despite its availability at his official store.

“There are many people selling the 2028 hat, but this is not something I’m looking to do. I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody. Ideally, a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward. But I think we’re going to have four years and I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular,” he said.

Asked about a potential successor, Trump said it was too early to endorse one. The US administration and the Republican Party have several prominent individuals to pick from, the president suggested.

“I think [the party is] so strong, and I think we have tremendous people. I think we have a tremendous group of people. We talked about a number of them. You look at Marco. You look at J.D. Vance, who’s fantastic. You look at I could name 10, 15, 20 people right now just sitting here,” he said.

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The event marking the 80th anniversary of the USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany has taken place in the US, China, and Latin America

Immortal Regiment marches in honor of World War II veterans have been held across the world this weekend, ahead of Victory Day celebrations on May 9 in Russia.

Around 1,000 people turned up for the event in the Chinese capital, Beijing on Saturday, with Russian Ambassador Igor Morgulov leading the procession. According to TASS, far more people took part compared to last year.

Immortal Regiment marches in Beijing to commemorate the USSR’s Victory over Nazism

Meanwhile, in the West, most countries outright forbid or try to prevent Immortal Regiment marches pic.twitter.com/KDr4B2oN2a

— RT (@RT_com) May 3, 2025

A similar rally took place in Washington, DC, with around 200 people carrying portraits of their veteran relatives and red flags. Among the marchers were Russian diplomats and other Russian nationals residing in the US, as well as citizens from former Soviet republics and Americans, TASS reported.

Soviet victory flags in HEART of Washington

WW2 heroes honored as Russian songs echo through streets of DC

Immortal Regiment before May 9 Victory Day https://t.co/TOIBOZJ3oh pic.twitter.com/m0gqt8yJ2w

— RT (@RT_com) May 3, 2025

The previous Immortal Regiment march held in Washington was in 2019. The following two years, the event was held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which was followed by a three-year hiatus amid tensions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

READ MORE: Vucic expected at Moscow parade despite illness – Serbian deputy PM

Aleksandr Kim, a representative of the Russian Embassy, stated that while the “situation has improved a little, [it] remains uneasy,” as evidenced by “attempts at provocation and other undesirable actions” during the latest Immortal Regiment event in the US capital, as quoted by RIA Novosti.

Izvestia has published a video showing a group of pro-Ukraine activists confronting the marchers and chanting anti-Russian slogans.

In Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, more than 200 people, both Russian nationals and locals, as well as Venezuelan, Cuban, and Serbian diplomats, also paid homage to Red Army veterans.

Nearly 500 people took to the streets of Caracas, Venezuela as part of an Immortal Regiment rally, too.

Similar scenes played out in Istanbul, Türkiye, as well as several Italian cities, including Rome and Naples, over the weekend.

The Immortal Regiment is a large-scale event held in cities across Russia and other nations, in which people carry portraits of their relatives who fought against Nazi Germany in World War II. The idea was first conceived in the Russian city of Tomsk in 2012, and has since gained in popularity.

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Why the 21st century might not be as post-imperial as we thought

Changes in the modern world suggest that the imperial order may not be so morally obsolete after all. Empires could return to world politics – not only as dark shadows of the past.

‘Empire’ may soon become a buzzword for discussing the direction in which the world’s political organization is heading. US President Donald Trump’s incessant talk of annexing Canada and Greenland to the US, the musings of Dutch politicians about splitting up Belgium – these are just the first sips of the great debate that will inevitably emerge as the order created in the second half of the 20th century unravels.

This order, it should be remembered, was based on granting independence to as many peoples as possible. The US, which promoted this concept, always assumed it was much easier to subjugate small and weak countries economically than to deal with large territorial powers.

The new ‘empire game’ is being launched by the West, while the rest of the world looks on – though not necessarily eager to join in. As always, Russia – whose supposed intent to restore an empire is a favorite thesis of US and European military propaganda – has acted with restraint, especially in relation to countries of the former Soviet Union. Russian observers, of course, have their own ideas when neighboring states look fragile or hostile powers try to exploit their territory to harm Russia.

In academic and popular literature, the concept of ‘empire’ is among the most compromised – largely thanks to American authors. In the popular imagination, it is associated either with the ancient world or with the era when aging European empires, including Russia, sought to impose their will on the rest of humanity. Ultimately, this culminated in World War I (1914-18), in which virtually every empire perished – physically or politically. Later, the US, which had rejected imperialism, and Russia, reborn as the USSR, rose to global prominence. They soon began calling each other empires, reinforcing the term’s negative connotation.

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Even today, using the word ‘empire’ as a strategic foreign policy goal is considered the domain of political outliers. This is especially true because friendly nations in the Global South that are aligned with Russia view empires with deep suspicion. To them, empires represent European colonizers who brought nothing but plunder, followed by neocolonial domination through bribed elites and exploitative economic deals.

In this respect, Russia was never an empire in the European sense of the word. Its core principle was the integration of local elites into the Russian state and the development of new territories. A striking indicator is the demographic statistics of Central Asia since its incorporation into Russia, especially during its time in the USSR. There is reason to believe that the current demographic boom in the five republics of the region is still supported by the health and social policies of the 20th century. Whether that continues, as these countries gravitate towards a South Asian model with harsher climates, remains to be seen.

Even now, the concept of empire remains mostly negative. However, in recent decades, it has increasingly been applied to the US, and occasionally, to Europe. The ‘American empire’ has become a staple in public debate, referring to Washington’s ability to enlist many countries in its foreign policy ventures. As for Europe, it’s mostly rhetorical. While Western European powers maintain some influence over their former colonies, it can hardly be called imperial. Talk of the EU as an empire quickly turns into satire. A “blooming garden” may sound nice, but an empire – with its sense of unchallenged might and unchecked expansion – is something modern the bloc is ill-equipped to embody.

Yet there are now signs that empires may return to world politics – not just as echoes of the past. First, in a functional sense: As a way of organizing security and development in a chaotic world, both for the empire’s own people (Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ springs to mind) and for other nations under its wing. These discussions are becoming inevitable as old frameworks collapse and crises grow – whether we like it or not.

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In the West, this discussion uses different language than history books do. But the idea is the same: Improve conditions at home by extending control abroad. Traditional economic partnerships no longer suffice. The competition from other great powers is too fierce. Trump often warns that if the US doesn’t take Canada or Greenland, China or Russia will. Russia, of course, has no such plans. But it’s becoming axiomatic that direct administrative control is seen as essential for future security.

There are good reasons for this, grounded in reality. International institutions are failing. The UN, hampered by Western sabotage, is becoming almost a symbolic organization. While Russia will continue to defend the UN’s role and international law – perhaps even successfully – the weakening of 20th-century institutions hasn’t led to credible replacements. BRICS is an impressive exception but does not aim to replace national governments in their core functions.

The EU, an old-style institution, is slowly drifting towards disintegration. Other international bodies have no real means to compel members to meet obligations. As a result, the major powers propping up these institutions are left disillusioned.

Even developments in science and tech fuel imperial discussions. While the author is no expert here, it’s clear that AI competition could lead to ‘digital empires’ – zones of dominance by tech giants from capable states. Another factor is the failure of some countries to maintain peace in their neighborhoods, reviving questions about whether imperial models are as obsolete as once thought.

But empires are hugely expensive. Even Western empires paid dearly to maintain their reach – remember Kipling’s grim lines about British soldiers’ fate after retirement in the likes of ‘Tommy’ and ‘The Last of the Light Brigade’? That’s why Britain and France happily shed their empires mid-century. Russia later realized it didn’t need vast territories, contributing to the USSR’s collapse. Still, in places like Tbilisi, some locals quietly express nostalgia for being part of a great power’s multicultural elite.

Another key obstacle is the contribution of new territories to the core state’s stability and prosperity. Russia isn’t trying to recreate an empire because it is now a different kind of state – combining imperial traits with principles unfamiliar to Europe, especially the equality of its citizens. True equality demands cultural cohesion, or at least a foundation for it. Russia and the USSR historically overextended this idea, often to their detriment. Today, Russia seeks new ways to ensure its neighbors’ security without harming its own interests.

This article was first published by Vzglyad newspaper and was translated and edited by the RT team.

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The prime minister has engaged in a war of words with Vladimir Zelensky, who suggested that Hungarians would welcome Kiev into the bloc

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky have clashed over Kiev’s prospects of joining the EU. Orban reminded the Ukrainian leader that Kiev has no chance of becoming part of the bloc without Budapest’s approval.

The war of words started on Friday when Orban warned that Ukraine’s EU membership “would bankrupt the Hungarian economy,” describing Kiev’s potential accession as a “collective economic trap.”

The Hungarian leader also criticized the EU’s goal of admitting Ukraine by 2030, a target recently reiterated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “We know when they want to bring them in. It’s not some vague future; it’s here, knocking at our door,” he said. “Forget the fairy tales about when and how. They want to do it now, as fast as possible.”

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Zelensky responded by citing domestic polling in Hungary. “70% support Ukraine joining the EU. That means people in Hungary are with us,” Zelensky claimed.

However, the poll conducted by the opposition Tisza Party to which Zelensky referred showed only 58% support. An earlier poll by the Hungarian newspaper Nepszava showed even lower figures, with 47% in favor and 46% against.

Orban fired back at Zelensky on X, writing: “What the Hungarian people think is not decided by the president in Kiev or the bureaucrats in Brussels. There is no Ukrainian EU accession without Hungary. Every Hungarian will have their say on this. Whether you like it or not. That’s how we do things here.”

All EU member states must unanimously approve any new country joining the bloc. Hungary has repeatedly cited widespread graft and minority rights issues as reasons to oppose Ukraine’s fast-track membership, with Orban at one point describing the nation as “one of the most corrupt countries in the world.”

Ukraine, which has designated EU membership as a national priority, formally applied to join the bloc in February 2022, just days after the escalation of hostilities with Russia. Despite support from several EU members, the timeline for Ukraine’s membership remains uncertain. Brussels has cited the need for Kiev to undertake significant legal, political, and economic reforms.

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Recruiters in the city of Lutsk violently detained a deliveryman, according to a clip on social media

Elon Musk has drawn attention to a viral video showing Ukrainian military recruiters forcibly detaining a deliveryman in Lutsk, in the western part of the country. Kiev has pursued a violent mobilization campaign for months, often resulting in clashes between reluctant civilians and military personnel.

On Saturday, a media user on X shared a video showing three Ukrainian soldiers approaching a man on a bicycle carrying a large yellow bag and wearing a vest, who appears to be a delivery worker.

After a brief conversation, the soldiers attempt to drag him into a white van parked nearby, but he resists. Following a struggle, the recruitment officers manage to shove the man into the vehicle, which then drives off. The fate of the detainee is unknown.

Reacting to the video, Musk posted “!!” on his social media platform. The X owner and close ally of US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on the Ukrainian leadership to sign a ceasefire with Russia to avoid further casualties. Last November, he also criticized reported calls by the US government for Ukraine to lower the minimum conscription age to 18, writing: “How many more need to die?”

On Friday, another mobilization video from Lutsk surfaced on social media, with recruitment officers – potentially driving the same van as in the first clip – forcibly detaining a man riding a scooter.

Ukraine announced a general mobilization following the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, barring most men 18 to 60 years old from leaving the country. In 2024, faced with manpower shortages and mounting losses, Kiev lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25, while introducing stricter penalties for draft evasion and tightening other mobilization rules.

READ MORE: Ukraine won’t win – Vance

As the mobilization drive continues, numerous videos have emerged on social media showing Ukrainian officials trying to forcibly recruit reluctant civilians, often leading to violent clashes.

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The country’s president, who pledged to attend despite pressure from the EU, was recently hospitalized with a heart condition

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is expected to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, despite a recent health scare, Finance Minister and Deputy PM Sinisa Mali has said.

The May 9 parade on Moscow’s Red Square will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The Kremlin has invited a number of leaders from countries including Serbia, Slovakia, China, India, and Brazil. EU officials have warned member and candidate states against attending.

On Friday, Vucic abruptly ended a trip to the US after experiencing chest pain during a meeting in Florida, reportedly caused by high blood pressure. He had planned to meet with the Serbian diaspora and US President Donald Trump, but returned to Belgrade and was admitted to the Military Medical Academy, according to local broadcaster RTS. Doctors said the president “cannot be expected to return to his regular activities for several days.”

Speaking on Saturday, Mali said Vucic will likely follow through with the visit. “One thing I can say is, knowing him, considering that he is a man of his word, he gave his word that he would be there, I assume that he will keep his word. But I cannot tell you that at this moment.” Vucic was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.

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The Military Medical Academy confirmed that the president underwent cardiovascular and hematological diagnostics and is now in stable condition. Doctors ordered him to rest, and he has canceled all activities and obligations for the next few days.

Among the EU leaders invited to the event were Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico. Hungary declined the invitation, stating that the end of World War II represented “a bitter defeat” due to the country’s alliance with Nazi Germany. Fico has confirmed his attendance.

During a meeting with Vucic last month, EC Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reportedly cautioned that his attendance would be held against Serbia’s EU bid. Despite the pressure, Vucic said he had not changed his decision to attend the event, where a unit of the Serbian Armed Forces will also take part. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels.

READ MORE: Serbian president cancels meetings in Washington – media

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The previous vote was annulled on grounds of alleged “Russian interference,” with the leading candidate barred from running again

Romania is holding a rerun of its presidential election on Sunday after the previous vote was annulled on grounds of alleged Russian interference and electoral violations. Moscow has denied all claims of interference.

The annulled election in late November saw independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu, known for his NATO-sceptic stance, unexpectedly prevail in the first round with 23% of the vote. However, the Constitutional Court later invalidated the results, citing electoral “irregularities.” The country’s officials claimed that the candidate’s campaign had utilized undeclared funds, and that Russia was behind “hybrid” attacks, including in the cyber realm.

In March, Georgescu was barred by the Central Electoral Bureau from running again, citing his alleged “anti-democratic” and “extremist” stance as well as a failure to comply with electoral procedures.

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In the current election, a total of 11 candidates are competing for the presidential post. The key contenders include George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), who is known for his opposition to the EU, and criticism of military support to Ukraine. He is leading the polls with approximately 30% support.

Other prominent candidates include Crin Antonescu, representing the governing Social-Democrat and National Liberal coalition, and Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, both of whom support pro-EU agendas.

If no candidate wins an absolute majority, a run-off between the two leading candidates will be held on May 18.

Ahead of the rerun, meanwhile, Romanian detained RT journalist Chay Bowes, who had traveled to Bucharest from Dublin, Ireland, to cover the election. According to the reporter, he was presented with a paper – of which he was not given a copy – alleging that he was “a threat to the security of the state” and therefore should be deported. Bowes, a EU citizen, has insisted that he entered Romania “completely legally… to do [his] job.”

Commenting on the detention, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Romanian election had turned into a “meme.” She added that “the situation around the election in Romania is so scandalous. It’s so dead-ended and it discredits the level of that pseudo democracy in Romania.”

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A Houthi official has confirmed the attack on Ben Gurion near Tel Aviv, claiming that the group has “no red lines” in its fight against Israel

Israel’s main airport was struck by a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday morning. The missile hit a grove near an access road inside the perimeter of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Media reports suggest that at least six people were wounded.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it failed to intercept the missile despite several attempts.
“An impact was identified in the area of Ben Gurion Airport,” the IDF said in a post on Telegram. The Israeli Air Force is investigating the failure.

The Houthis, who control western Yemen, including the capital and the port of Hodeidah, have launched a number of drones and missiles at commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea and at targets in Israel over the past year, aiming to pressure West Jerusalem over its military operation in Gaza. Israel launched the campaign following a deadly raid by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in October 2023. The Houthis said they would stop the attacks if Israel halts its operation in Gaza.

Israel has not launched strikes against Yemen in response to the Houthi attacks. The US, however, began air and naval strikes against Houthi targets in March, citing threats to Red Sea shipping. Last week, US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to intensify strikes in Yemen and warned that the Houthis would be “completely annihilated” if they continued their attacks. The UK has also taken part in the strikes, with the Defense Ministry saying it targeted a Houthi-controlled facility.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Iran of arming the Houthis and warned there would be consequences. Tehran denied the claims. The US, however, announced sweeping sanctions on countries buying Iranian oil or petrochemicals on Thursday, citing Tehran’s alleged role in fueling conflict in the Middle East, among other things.

Russia has urged Washington to halt its strikes on Yemen. In a phone call in March with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for an immediate end to the use of force and urged all sides to engage in political dialogue.

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A federal road map calls for reduced staffing and an expanded role for private companies in space operations

The US government has confirmed it will begin winding down operations on the International Space Station (ISS), with the goal of retiring the orbiting lab by 2030. The decision is included in the White House’s Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request released on Friday.

NASA first detailed the plan to decommission the ISS in December 2021. This was reiterated in follow-up documents published in early 2022.

According to the new document, “The Budget reflects the upcoming transition to a more cost-effective commercial approach to human activities in space as the space station approaches the end of its life cycle.”

The 2026 budget request would allocate around $18.6 billion to NASA, down from $24.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, with deep cuts to science programs. The Trump administration stated that crewed and cargo missions to the ISS would be significantly reduced during the transition period. Remaining onboard research will focus on long-duration spaceflight studies crucial to upcoming Moon and Mars missions – efforts that are strongly backed by US President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

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NASA is expected to rely more heavily on the private sector to maintain a US presence in low Earth orbit. The budget request says the agency will replace the ISS with “commercial space stations,” which will gradually take over operations previously handled by the aging government-owned facility.

The ISS was launched in 1998 as a joint effort involving the US, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, and other countries. The project began with the launch of Russia’s Zarya module in November 1998, followed by NASA’s Unity module delivered by the Space Shuttle Endeavour in December that year. Since then, the ISS has hosted astronauts from over a dozen nations and supported thousands of science experiments.

Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, previously raised doubts about extending ISS operations until 2030. In July 2022, then-Roscosmos head Yury Borisov announced that Russia would leave the ISS program after 2024 and begin building its own Russian Orbital Station (ROS). In 2024, Borisov approved a master schedule for constructing the ROS through 2033, though he later clarified that Russia’s exact exit date would depend on the condition of the ISS.

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Earlier media reports claimed the US president was pressuring the neighboring country to accept a military deployment to help fight drug cartels

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to deploy troops to fight the drug cartels. She insisted that while Mexico is open to cooperation, it will never accept “subordination” to Washington.

Sheinbaum’s comments came after a Wall Street Journal report on Saturday claimed that Trump had pressured her to allow US military operations inside Mexico. The report focused on a mid-April phone call in which Trump reportedly pushed for troops to be deployed to combat fentanyl-smuggling cartels. According to sources, Sheinbaum rebuffed the idea, leading to a heated exchange.

Speaking at a university opening on Saturday, Sheinbaum confirmed the report and outlined her position.

“It is true… he said, ‘I propose that the US army enter to help.’ And you know what I told him? No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, our sovereignty is inalienable, our sovereignty is not for sale!” she said.

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She added that if Trump wants to help, he should focus on stopping the flow of weapons from the US into Mexico.

A statement from the White House on Saturday said Sheinbaum and Trump have worked closely “to achieve the most secure southwest border in history,” but did not address the reported offer of troops.

“The president has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more to combat these gangs and cartels, and the US stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries,” the statement read.

Trump has long accused Mexico of failing to prevent drug cartels from smuggling fentanyl into the US. During last year’s presidential campaign, he pledged to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He later claimed that Mexico is “essentially run by the cartels,” and suggested that the US should “wage war” on them.

In order to place pressure on the country, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports. They were later paused for goods covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, including food, medical devices, clothing, chemicals, and machinery. A separate 25% tariff on Mexican car imports remains in effect. In addition to tariffs, the US has sanctioned cartel members and affiliates.

READ MORE: US suspends tariffs on Mexican goods after ‘very friendly’ talk

In February, Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to combat fentanyl smuggling and help stem illegal border crossings. That month, Mexico extradited 29 cartel suspects to the US.

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The co-leader of The Left party leader has said the US-led military bloc “has no future”

The co-leader of the German Left party, Jan van Aken, has called for NATO to be replaced with a new security alliance involving both Russia and the United States, arguing that the US-led military bloc “has no future.”

In an interview with Die Zeit published on Saturday, van Aken said the party continues to support its 2011 platform, which called for Germany to exit NATO and help create a new collective security system.

“We never wanted to abolish NATO without replacement but rather replace it with a cooperative security system,” van Aken said when asked whether Germany and its European allies could defend themselves without US support. He proposed a new model similar to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), focusing on peacekeeping and joint defense.

“Something like OECD 2.0. A peace and defense alliance, together with Russia and the US. But of course, if we were to rebuild it, it would certainly require another ten years of confidence-building measures. NATO would still exist that long, but it no longer has a future,” he stated.

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Van Aken also called for the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Germany. “Yes, and they should take their nuclear weapons with them,” he said, noting that the nuclear stockpiles in France and the UK are already “more than enough.”

He confirmed that the vision of a demilitarized Europe remains central to the party’s agenda. “Of course I want to live in a country without an army. Don’t you?”

Last month, Germany unveiled a new military aid package for Ukraine, including vehicles, air-defense rockets, and howitzers. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has indicated support for supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory. The Social Democrats, who are holding coalition talks with Merz’s Christian Democrats, have opposed the move as a needless escalation.

Moscow has warned that supplying the missiles would make Germany directly involved in the conflict, arguing that Ukrainian forces cannot operate the Taurus without the help of German personnel.

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The pilot of a small single-engine aircraft has been killed, the authorities have said

A small aircraft crashed into two homes in Simi Valley, California on Saturday, killing the pilot, officials have said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the single-engine Van’s Aircraft RV-10 took off from General William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, north of Los Angeles, and was en route to Camarillo Airport in Ventura County.

The Ventura County Fire Department said people were inside both homes at the time of the crash but evacuated without injuries. The identity of the pilot has not been made public.

A witness told RMG News that he saw the plane “flying very low and erratic” shortly before the crash.

#meadowincident; VCFD is on scene of a small, single engine fixed-wing aircraft that crashed into two structures in the 200 block of High Meadow Street in the Wood Ranch area of Simi valley. The structures are both two-story, single-family homes that were impacted by fire and… pic.twitter.com/W4L18G1dbj

— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) May 3, 2025

The US has experienced a string of deadly aviation incidents in recent months. In late January, an American Airlines plane collided with a US Army helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, killing a total of 67 people in both aircraft. Several days later, a medical plane crashed in Philadelphia, claiming the lives of all six people on board as well as one person on the ground.

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An RT video uses a quote from the wartime prime minister praising the Red Army for ‘tearing the guts out of’ the Wehrmacht

RT has released an AI-generated video of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill speaking about the crucial role of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Nazi Germany and other Axis powers in World War II.

As the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory next week, the video responds to a tendency in the West to overlook or downplay the USSR’s contribution. The Soviet Union destroyed the bulk of the German forces and lost around 27 million people in what is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.

In the video, Churchill is shown reacting to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s remarks during a visit to the White House in February. “No two countries have done more together to keep people safe,” Starmer said. “And in a few weeks’ time we’ll mark… the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe. Britain and America fought side-by-side to make that happen.”

Churchill’s quote used in the video is authentic, taken from a letter to Joseph Stalin. “I shall take the occasion to repeat tomorrow in the House of Commons what I have said before, that it is the Russian army that tore the guts out of the German military machine and is at the present moment holding by far the larger portion of the enemy on its front,” he wrote on September 27, 1944.

The letter was written as the Red Army was on the offensive, following its decisive victory over the Wehrmacht in the Battle of Kursk.

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The German Foreign Ministry insists that the domestic security service’s recent decision to designate the AfD party as “extremist” is democratic

Berlin has rebutted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s characterization of Germany as “tyranny in disguise” after the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was officially designated as “extremist.”

In a post on X on Friday, the Foreign Ministry wrote, “This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law.”

In an earlier post on the platform, Rubio stated that “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.”

Rubio called on Berlin to “reverse course,” charging that it is not the AfD that is extremist, but rather the “establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies,” which the German party opposes.

In an X post of his own on Friday, US Vice President J.D. Vance in a similar vein claimed that the “German establishment” had rebuilt the Berlin Wall that came to symbolize the separation between West and East Germany during the Cold War.

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He argued that the “AfD is the most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany” – an assertion that appears to be borne out by election results in the economically underdeveloped regions of former East Germany in recent years.

During the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance chastised politicians who shun parties such as the AfD, which is known for its tough anti-immigration stance.

On Friday, the German domestic security service (BfV) announced the decision to officially designate AfD a “confirmed extremist entity” – a status that grants the authorities the unrestricted right to surveil the party’s activities.

The agency cited the “extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity” as well as the AfD’s “prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent.” The latter is said to be “incompatible with the democratic basic order.”

The party came in second in the snap election in February, behind the center-right Christian Democrats, which ruled out any coalitions with the AfD, as did all the other major parties. Recent polls show the two parties neck-and-neck, with one survey by the Forsa Institute putting the AfD one percentage point ahead of the Christian Democrats.

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The billionaire has accused the “legacy media” of waging a propaganda campaign against him and trying to portray him as a Nazi

US government efficiency chief and tech billionaire Elon Musk has accused the American “legacy media” of waging a concentrated “character assassination” effort against him, claiming they would have “immediately” killed him “in reality” if offered such an opportunity.

The Space X and Tesla CEO made the remarks on Saturday in an interview with Lara Trump, a Fox host and the US president’s daughter-in-law, during which he reflected on the fallout of his speech at the inauguration of Donald Trump back in January.

During the event, Musk made gestures that were perceived by some as Nazi salutes. The billionaire, however, continues to insist that his actions were deliberately misrepresented by the mainstream media and had nothing to do with Nazi gestures.

“Obviously, I’ve not harmed anyone in my life, so it’s an outrageous thing to claim that I’m a Nazi,” he claimed. “If you repeat a lie, you know, the sort of ‘he’s a Nazi lie’ enough times, some people actually believe it, especially people that still believe the legacy news, you know.”

Propaganda works because people want simple narratives. But the truth is messier, and it’s worth fighting for. I’m not here to play their game. I’m here to build a better future, no matter how many lies they throw my way.

The main “issue” with the Nazis was not their “mannerisms” or their “choice of dress,” but the “fact that they killed millions of people,” Musk argued.

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The billionaire also defended the US president, stating that Trump has been the target of a similar “propaganda” campaign for over 20 years already. The US leader is “not a violent person,” Musk said, and “in fact has done a lot to prevent wars and stop wars, which is the very opposite of being a Nazi.”

Musk claimed that the media’s hatred of him is very personal and that his critics would not hesitate to assassinate him if presented with such an opportunity. He did not elaborate on who exactly he suspected of being capable of a such an act.

“They’re trying every angle to get me. If they could press a button and kill me in reality, they’d press it immediately. But since I’m a little hard to kill, they’re resorting to character assassination instead,” he claimed.

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The US envoy to the bloc has reportedly warned European member states of a potential boycott by the US president unless they agree to increase defense spending

US President Donald Trump could snub NATO’s upcoming summit unless European member states commit to significantly higher defense spending, Germany’s Der Spiegel reported on Friday.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has repeatedly demanded that European member states shell out 5% of their GDP on defense, as opposed to the military bloc’s previous target of 2%, according to the outlet, citing “confidential reports” from German officials in Brussels. Whitaker reportedly warned that failure to meet the new benchmark could result in Trump declining to attend NATO’s summit in The Hague scheduled for late June.

Der Spiegel noted that during a phone call with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius last month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “conveyed the administration’s intent for European allies to assume primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defenses,” and urged his counterpart to “actualize defense spending increases,” as reported in a readout published by the Pentagon.

In an interview with The Free Press last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the current arrangement within the military bloc as the US and a “bunch of junior partners that aren’t doing their fair share.”

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Hegseth has echoed the sentiment, proclaiming that the “time of the United States… being the sole guarantor of European security has passed. It’s long overdue Europe has to step up, fund its military, and lead.” He similarly stated that NATO’s current 2% defense spending target is insufficient.

Last month, Trump said he would not rule out withdrawing some or all of the 84,000 US troops currently stationed in Europe since Washington foots the bill for the continent’s security, while not getting “reimbursed by much.”

As of 2024, 23 of the 32 NATO member countries had reached the 2% benchmark set in 2014, according to the bloc’s own estimates cited by the BBC. The US currently spends around 3.5% of its GDP on defense and is NATO’s biggest overall contributor.

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The country’s ambassador to Russia has told RT he hopes for a “deescalation of tensions” with India amid concerns over possible military action

Pakistan will respond with the “full spectrum of power” if India attacks it or disrupts vital water flows, the country’s ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, has said as tensions remain escalated between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly attack against civilians in Kashmir.

Speaking to RT on Saturday, the ambassador said that Pakistani intelligence has evidence of planned military aggression from New Delhi, which has accused Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism on its soil. “There are some other leaked documents whereby it has been decided to strike certain areas of Pakistan,” Jamali said. “So that makes us feel that this is going to happen and it’s imminent.”

The ambassador warned that Pakistan is prepared to respond to any aggression: “We in Pakistan will use the full spectrum of power, both conventional and nuclear.”

He also reiterated Islamabad’s position regarding the Indus Water Treaty, a key agreement between India and Pakistan, which New Delhi suspended last week as a part of its diplomatic response to the attack. “Any attempt to usurp the water of the lower riparian, or to stop it, or to divert it would be an act of war against Pakistan and would be responded to with full force of power including full spectrum of power,” the envoy said.

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Jamali, however, urged de-escalation, noting the potential danger given that both countries possess nuclear weapons. “As the two countries are two nuclear powers, there is all the more need to deescalate the tensions.” Pakistan has earlier called for “neutral and credible investigations” into the Kashmir attack. “I think the role of the international community comes in. And in this regard, we expect that powers like China and Russia can participate in those investigations,” he added.

New Delhi earlier reduced the staff at the Pakistani High Commission, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and closing its land border – and Islamabad responded with reciprocal measures. The Indian government also suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals. On Saturday, New Delhi announced a set of further measures aimed at downgrading already severed trade ties with Pakistan.

READ MORE: ‘Our hearts bleed today’: How terrorist attack shook fragile stability in Kashmir

The terrorist attack occurred in the afternoon of April 22 in Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination around 6km from the town of Pahalgam. The Resistance Front, a militant group believed to be linked to the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reportedly claimed responsibility, prompting New Delhi to accuse Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism. Police in Kashmir say they have identified three suspects, two of whom are Pakistani nationals, in the attack.

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