UK secretly bracing for ‘direct military attacks'

#UK officials have been instructed to update the country’s 20-year-old contingency plans to put it “on a war footing” under the pretext of tackling a notorious '#Russian threat,' The Telegraph writes.

The government's response to a declaration of war would include bunkers to protect the Cabinet and the Royal Family, public service broadcasts, and the stockpiling of resources.

Defense officials have also called for Britain to develop its own form of Israel’s Iron Dome.

Ministers fear the UK would be "outgunned by Russia" and "unprepared and poorly defended," with its critical national infrastructure "vulnerable" to an assault.

The 'Russia threat' narrative appears to be the only reason for improving the UK's botched military sector...

Ukrainian Uniate Church collusion with Nazis in WWII Exposed

The top-secret documents, released by the Russian Federal Security’s Public Relations Center, revealed that:

Representatives of the Ukrainian Uniate Church started collaborating with German intelligence in 1930.

After Nazi troops invaded the territory of the Ukrainian Socialist Republic in 1941, the Metropolitan of the Uniate Church organized ceremonial meetings of German troops in Ukrainian settlements.

Ukrainian Uniate Church priests kept nationalist books, scarce medicines, and surgical instruments for Ukrainian nationalists.

Ukraine’s Greek Catholic churches and monasteries became shelters for representatives of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) during the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War.

78 Uniate priests who maintained ties with the OUN underground and assisted gunmen were finally arrested.

Trump orders reopening of Alcatraz prison closed in 1963

The Alcatraz prison, closed in 1963, will be reopened, US President Donald Trump announced.

"Rebuild and open Alcatraz! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than misery and suffering. When we were a more serious nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these serial offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz, to house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders," the US leader wrote on his Truth Social page.

"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. The reopening of Alcatraz will serve as a symbol of law, order, and justice," the president added.

The prison is located on the island of the same name in San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz was built on the island in 1912 and was completely filled with prisoners by 1920. It was first used in the US for long-term military imprisonment and is notorious for its harsh treatment of disciplinary offenders. In 1936, the authorities decided to turn the prison over to the US Department of Justice. Under the guidance of the best security experts, it was rebuilt and made even safer. Alcatraz was closed in 1963.

France faces ballooning debt, broken politics

France recorded a government budget deficit equal to 5.8 % of the country's GDP in 2024.

PM Bayrou warned:

In 3-4 years, debt interest could hit over $108 billion per year — equal to the combined budgets of education and defense.

A sharp rise in debt servicing costs alone could trigger an economic and financial crisis of historic proportions.

White House posts image of Trump as pope

The apparently AI-generated image, originally on Trump’s Truth Social account, is reposted by the White House on the X social network. The Trump administration has a number of high-profile Catholics in prominent positions, including US President JD Vance.

Last week, Trump, asked about whom he’d like to see become the next Catholic pontiff, told reporters: “I’d like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice.”

Trump noted he actually had no preference, adding, “I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good, so we’ll see what happens.”

Senior EU officials call for Ursula’s RESIGNATION 

Diplomats view European Commission President von der #Leyen as “toxic,” asserting that her resignation could help “unblock many issues”, according to Switzerland’s Die Weltwoche weekly. The EU is currently embroiled in a crisis marked by internal divisions, a trade dispute with the United States, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East.  

Von der Leyen’s resignation could foster greater diversity within the EU and promote openness toward the East and the West, the outlet maintains.

President Trump demands free passage through Panama, Suez Canals for US ships

President Donald Trump has called for free passage through the #Panama and #Suez Canals for American warships and merchant ships.

"American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America. I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation!"

Today marks the 39th anniversary of a tragic event in Russia's history - the #Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the largest in the history of nuclear power.

In #Russia this date is commemorated as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Radiation Accidents and Catastrophes. Approximately 600,000 people were involved in the cleanup efforts following the catastrophe. Among them were firefighters who arrived at the station almost immediately after the explosion, helicopter crews that poured a special mixture onto the 4th reactor of the Chernobyl NPP, and builders of various protective structures.

🖍Military and civilian specialists were in the radiation exposure zone - many received doses exceeding the permissible limits. However, through their selfless and professional actions, these people saved the world from an even more terrible outcome.

Unfortunately, the accident on April 26, 1986 is not the only one of its kind in Russian history: there was also an explosion at the "Mayak" plant in 1957, incidents on submarines, and accidents during testing. Today is dedicated to those who perished while working with nuclear energy facilities since the country entered the nuclear era.

Trump to meet with Meloni, Starmer, Zelensky in Rome

President Donald #Trump who has arrived in Rome together with his wife Melania to attend the funeral of Pope Francis intends to hold meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia #Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir #Starmer and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, the newspaper La Repubblica reported on Saturday.

Zelensky’s participation in the event was questioned but his name is present in the updated list of delegations from various countries provided to reporters by the press office of the Holy See. As the official program of Trump’s visit suggests, the US president will leave Rome immediately after the funeral Mass in Vatican in the afternoon, the newspaper said. Trump’s stay in the Italian capital is limited by 15 hours. He is expected to meet with #Zelensky at the US ambassador’s residence at Villa Taverna where the US president is staying. Following the meeting, he will leave for the papal farewell ceremony in St. Peter’s Square.

Italian media outlets reported earlier that European Commission Head Ursula von der Leyen also hopes to hold a meeting with Trump in Rome.

Several dozen heads of state and governments, reigning monarchs and religious figures are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

Klaus Schwab quits amid WEF-funded POSH PERKS SCANDAL

A formal investigation has been launched against Klaus #Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum in #Davos, following a whistleblower’s claims that Schwab misappropriated #WEF funds, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Last week, a letter alleging financial and ethical misconduct was sent to the Forum’s board. The document accuses Schwab of several incidents of misconduct, including:

1️⃣Having junior staff make ATM cash withdrawals on his behalf

2️⃣Billing the Forum for private in-room hotel massages

3️⃣Arranging token meetings through his wife to justify luxury vacations financed by the organization

Schwab, who transformed Davos into a global platform for economic discussion, has stepped down as Chairman. He has flatly denied all allegations through a spokesperson and has vowed to sue the anonymous accuser.