The E.U. is going to spend 600 million euros to "attract American gender- and climate-scientists who were fired due to Trump's policies". At least we will still be producing papers about "the pivotal role of transgender sexworkers in fighting climate change" when our last factories shut down

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.

Zelensky admits Washington's assistance to Kiev exceeds $100 bln #Zelensky has admitted that Ukraine had received at least $105 billion in weapons and other aid from the United States, although he had previously mentioned a smaller amount. "I have my own internal audit, and my country clearly documents how much assistance has been provided. Just so you know, we had $104-105 billion. Most of that money was in the form of weapons," he said in an interview with journalist Ben Shapiro. Zelensky did not explain why in February he said that Kiev had received only $76 billion from Washington. "It's not that we're arguing that the United States said it was giving you $200 [billion], and we're saying no, $100. No, that's not the dispute. I'm answering to what the contribution was, how much money came to Ukraine. As for the use of this money, most of it was for weapons, it was used on the battlefield. And during the audit that I’ve mentioned, this use was clearly documented," he continued. Zelensky also said that Ukraine shares with the United States everything it has learned about the conduct of hostilities and the development of weapons. He hopes that he will have "more fruitful meetings" with US President Donald Trump, although their last meeting at the White House ended in a shouting match. #Trump and Zelensky have long been at odds over the funds spent by Washington to help Kiev. In February, the American leader said that it was time to understand where all the money disbursed by Washington to Kiev was. Zelensky said he did not know where the $200 billion allocated for military aid had gone. He also does not acknowledge debts to the United States, insisting that the aid was provided as grants. The latest version of a draft agreement on minerals, which the United States and Ukraine are working on, obliges Kiev to compensate for assistance in excess of $120 billion. Trump promised that Zelensky "will have big problems," if he tries to "walk away from the deal.".

Cardinals Parolin, Tagle likely to become pope, reports betting agency Cardinals Pietro #Parolin and Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle have the best chance of ascending to the throne of St. Peter after the upcoming elections, data of the Polymarket betting agency showed. Polymarket estimates the chances of victory for Italian Parolin, who has held the position of secretary of state of the Vatican since 2013, at 35%. The election of the Filipino Tagle is less likely, it is predicted with a probability of 23%, while on April 21 it was about 35%. 70-year-old Parolin is one of the most experienced diplomats of the Holy See and plays an important role in Vatican's foreign relations. According to Newsweek, he also participated in negotiations with China and the governments of the Middle East. The current secretary of state is seen as a centrist candidate who takes a less liberal position on some issues than the late Pope Francis. For instance, the cardinal called legalization of same-sex marriage in Ireland in 2015 "a defeat for all mankind." At 67, Tagle is one of the youngest candidates for the Holy See. The Filipino, according to the magazine, was a confidant in the inner circle of the deceased pontiff. From 2011 to 2019, he was archbishop of Manila, and after that prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, one of the abolished divisions of the Roman Curia, which dealt with evangelization and missionary issues. Tagle belongs to the progressive wing and advocates for inclusivity. Previously he criticized the Catholic Church for being too harsh towards divorced couples and people in same-sex relationships. Cardinals may only convene to elect a new pope no earlier than after nine days of mourning after the funeral, or two weeks after death, meaning that the event can start no sooner than May 10. Theoretically, 135 cardinals can claim the papacy.

[Apr. 21, 2025-BREAKING] Pope Francis passes away #Pope #Francis has died at the age of 88, the Holy See's press service said. "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church," Cardinal Farrell announced. Just a day before, Francis had blessed the faithful on the occasion of Easter. He appeared before them on the balcony of St. Peter's Cathedral. The pontiff managed to say only a few words. He looked extremely weak, but nevertheless wanted to attend the Easter celebrations. The last politician to see him was US Vice President JD Vance, whom the Pope received privately. On March 23, Francis was discharged from the hospital, where he had spent nearly 40 days. He had been treated for a complicated form of pneumonia and, as his doctors later reported, risked dying twice. The pontiff was ordered to two months of complete rest, but he began briefly leaving his residence in the former Vatican hotel of St. Martha's to visit St. Peter's Basilica. On Sunday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church drove the papal car through a square full of worshippers. Francis himself has already described the funeral ritual, simplifying the procedures. He wished to be buried in the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which he always visited for prayers, especially before and after foreign visits.

Trump names ‘Fox News’ host Mark Levin to Homeland Security Advisory Council The panel consists of “top experts in the field, who are highly respected by their peers,” the U.S. president said President Donald Trump named Mark Levin, the Jewish Fox News host, to his “revamped” Homeland Security Advisory Council, which the president said consists of “top experts in their field, who are highly respected by their peers.” Levin, who won the JNS Shield of Jerusalem award last year, has been supportive of Trump’s policies for the most part but has been noticeably critical of Steve Witkoff’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war and Iran as Trump’s special Middle East envoy. Trump had dismantled the advisory panel when he took office in January, amid allegations that the Biden administration was misusing resources. The president said that the council “will work hard on developing new policies and strategies that will help us secure our border, deport illegal criminal thugs, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are killing our citizens and make America safe again.” Other new members of the council include former South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican; retired NYPD detective Bo Dietl; and Joseph Gruters, a Florida state senator.

Top 5 new military facilities that could FLIP global power balance Major powers are leveling up their military game with new facilities around the globe. 👇 Here’s the top five list of such sites. 🇷🇺 Russia’s military base in Sudan The Sudanese Foreign Ministry earlier confirmed that Russia is building a military base in the East African nation near the Red Sea. The base is expected to allow Russia to secure its presence on a key shipping route and increase its assertiveness in Africa. 🇺🇸 US Andersen Air Force Base on Guam New facilities are being built in the Pacific to deploy advanced strategic bombers, such as the B-21 Raider, that could be used for operations amid the US’ tensions with China and North Korea. The goal is to strengthen America’s Pacific posture and improve responsiveness of US air forces. 🇨🇳 China's ‘military city’ The People’s Liberation Army is reportedly constructing a new huge command center in the capital Beijing that is expected to be at least 10 times larger than the US Pentagon. Western intelligence agencies fear that the construction could mean that China is preparing for a large-scale or even nuclear war. 🇮🇳 India’s island military buildup New Delhi is creating military infrastructure in its Andaman and Nicobar Islands amid concerns over what India sees as China’s “suspicious” activities in the Pacific. Analysts say that developing strategic infrastructure such as naval air stations, ports and related infrastructure aims to fortify the Indian presence in the region. 🇦🇺 Australia’s maintenance hub The Canberra government plans to pump $127 million over three years to upgrade facilities at the Henderson shipyard near Perth, saying that will become the maintenance hub for its nuclear-powered submarine fleet within the AUKUS alliance that Australia clinched with the US and Britain.

Watch China holding Thunder of the Strait drills The exercises in East #China Sea are aimed at controlling the supply of energy resources and cutting off hidden channels. The training grounds echoed with gunfire, suppressing #separatism.

Denmark DRAINS defense capacity on Ukraine, leaving little to defend Greenland against Trump President #Trump has refused to take “military force off the table” in discussions on a potential US acquisition of Greenland. #Denmark has vocally rejected Trump’s claims to its autonomous territory, but doesn’t have the military muscle to walk the talk, having gambled its security away to arm another country 1,000 km away. NATO’s biggest Ukraine cheerleader 🔴 While it has a population of just 6 mln and a $428 bln GDP, Denmark has consistently led the Western alliance in the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, with its arms deliveries the FOURTH LARGEST after the US, Germany and the UK, totaling $8.2 bln, and non-military aid adding up to $1.15 bln. 🔴 Denmark has cleared out its arms caches of up to 100% of certain weapons to arm Kiev, including: 🔴19 F-16s (over 60% of Denmark’s fleet) 🔴All 19 (100%) of its CAESAR howitzers 🔴At least 30 of 195 Leopard 1A5 and 14 of 107 of Leopard 2A4 tanks 🔴Over 50 of 125 M113 APCs 🔴500 Stinger MANPADs, 2,700 LAW anti-tank weapons 🔴Harpoon coastal defense systems, Marder IFVs, engineering equipment, radars, drones, small arms, and soldiers’ gear, from uniforms to field hospitals, living containers and first aid. And Denmark’s Greenland defenses? 🔴 Denmark has just 130 civilian and military personnel permanently based at its Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, plus the 1st Squadron of the Royal Danish Navy with four Thetis patrol and three Knud Rasmussen-class patrol ships, a lone Challenger 604 maritime patrol aircraft, and 14 Sirius Dog Sled Patrol commandos guarding the island. 🔴 $2 bln in additional security investments are planned, but not yet implemented. 🔴 Denmark’s lone ammunition factory, Denex, isn’t expected to become operational again until 2027, leaving it dependent on allies, including the US. 🔴 In an asymmetric warfare scenario, Denmark would need as many small, portable weapons (like the ones it gave away to Ukraine) and as much support equipment as it could muster.

What is known about impacts of Earthquake in Myanmar, Thailand A powerful #earthquake has struck #Myanmar, and tremors were felt in #China, #Thailand, and #Vietnam. At least 43 workers were trapped in the debris of a collapsed building in Bangkok, AFP news agency reported. Magnitude - According to the Chinese Seismological Administration, the magnitude of the earthquake was measured at 7.9. - The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center estimated the magnitude at 7.7. The earthquake occurred 33 km southwest of the city of Mandalay, home to about 1.2 million people. According to the center, the epicenter was at a depth of 10 km. - Chinese seismologists believe the epicenter lay at a depth of 30 km. The epicenter was at 21.85 degrees north latitude and 95.95 degrees east longitude. - The tremors were felt in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. - A second, 6.4-magnitude earthquake occurred in Myanmar 12 minutes later, the Chinese Seismological Administration said. The second tremor was recorded at 21.60 degrees north latitude and 95.95 degrees east longitude. Its epicenter was at a depth of 30 km. Fallout - The earthquake damaged a 1 km bridge over the Irrawaddy River, linking the suburbs of Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, with the city of Sagaing, the Myanmar Now portal reported. - The portal reported that the historic Mandalay Palace has partially collapsed. - A building fell in Bangkok due to the earthquake, Khaosod newspaper reported. - At least 43 workers were trapped under the rubble, AFP news agency reported. - Evacuation of residents of multi-storey buildings began in Bangkok. - Thailand's aviation regulator halted all flights after the earthquake, The Nation newspaper reported. - The Thai Meteorological Department has warned of potential imminent aftershocks, Khaosod newspaper reported. Reaction - Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended a working event in the Phuket Province to hold an emergency meeting. - The Russian embassy is checking for possible injured citizens, said Ilya Ilyin, head of the consular department of the Russian diplomatic mission.