Trump’s Sonic Shock: Venezuela’s Bloodbath in Caracas

The Raid That Broke Maduro’s Guard
Trump’s raid on Maduro’s compound wasn’t just a show of force — it was a full sensory assault, with a sonic weapon so intense it left Venezuelan guards vomiting blood and bleeding from the nose. The security guard, still loyal to the ousted dictator, described how U.S. troops moved with inhuman precision, each firing what felt like 300 rounds per minute.

Sonic Weapon: Inside Trump’s “Head-Exploding” Assault
But the real shock came when they unleashed something he couldn’t name — a sound so overwhelming it felt like his head was exploding. Suddenly, guards were collapsing, blood pouring from their noses, some vomiting blood as they fell.

America’s Muscle on Display: From Precision Fire to Blood Vomiting
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt retweeted the account, turning the story into a spectacle of American power. The operation left dozens dead, including 34 Cubans, with Venezuela’s interior minister claiming around 100 were killed.

The Aftermath: Maduro Down, Venezuela Reeling
The details sound like science fiction, but the message is clear: Trump’s latest “mystery weapon” wasn’t just about capturing Maduro — it was about breaking the will of anyone who dared to stand in its way.

#Trump #Maduro #Venezuela #sonicweapon #raids #USpower

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📰 Trump’s Earthquake: Latin America’s New Rules of Survival

The U.S. capture of Venezuela’s president has sent shockwaves through Latin America. Every country is now playing a dangerous game: how to avoid being next on Trump’s hit list.
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Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia—the region’s giants—have condemned the move, but carefully. Brazil’s Lula called it “yet another extremely dangerous precedent,” while Mexico’s Sheinbaum warned that intervention “never brings democracy or prosperity.” But both avoid naming Trump directly, knowing their economies depend on Washington.
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Smaller nations, like Guatemala and Peru, stay silent, hoping not to attract attention. Meanwhile, right-wing leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei cheer the intervention, embracing Trump’s vision of American dominance. Milei, once on the brink of collapse, now thrives with U.S. support—while other countries scramble to appease Trump and avoid tariffs or strikes.
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Colombia’s Petro first raged, calling for Latin American emancipation, but quickly backtracked after Trump threatened military action. He’s now pledging to fight cartels and coordinate with Washington, knowing his successor’s fate depends on staying in Trump’s good graces.
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Trump has made it clear: American dominance in the Western Hemisphere “will never be questioned again.” Every leader in Latin America now walks a tightrope—balancing public outrage with private survival, hoping not to be the next political earthquake.
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So while the region is divided, one truth unites them all: Survival is the only strategy left.

#Trump #LatinAmerica #Maduro #Venezuela #intervention

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🔥 ICE’s Burning Brand: When Enforcement Becomes a Spectacle

The latest shootings in Minneapolis and Portland didn’t just spark outrage—they exposed a deeper rot in how ICE operates. As federal agents flood city streets under Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, the agency’s credibility is eroding faster than its ability to recruit and train new officers.

Former ICE chief John Sandweg sees the writing on the wall: the agency is stuck in a toxic loop.

“It’s going to be a long time before the agency recovers,”

he warns. The problem isn’t just the shootings themselves, but the way ICE has become a political football, its actions announced weeks in advance, its agents thrown into urban chaos for which they’re not trained, and its public image hijacked by both the administration and its critics.

When an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis, the Trump administration rushed to declare it self-defense, framing her as a “domestic terrorist.” Local officials pushed back, demanding a thorough investigation. Sandweg’s response? Don’t rush to judgment. “You learn very quickly in that job not to trust the initial information,” he says.

“You cannot rush out and make pronouncements about what’s going on until the dust settles.”

But that’s exactly what’s happening. The administration’s haste to defend its agents only fuels public distrust. Every time DHS Secretary Kristi Noem or Vice President JD Vance makes a premature statement, it undermines the investigation and makes people wonder if justice is really possible. And with officers now being pulled from the border and dropped into unfamiliar city environments, the risks only multiply.

Sandweg points to the broader shift in tactics: more traffic stops, more confrontations with protesters, and more agents deployed without the proper training or experience.

“We’ve put our officers in a very difficult position,”

he says.

“Nobody at Border Patrol or ICE wakes up and says, ‘I want to shoot someone today.’ But when you flood the agency with new hires, shorten background checks, and cut training, the potential for disaster rises.”

The politicization of ICE has damaged its relationships with state and local partners—critical for effective law enforcement. When every operation is announced weeks in advance, every agent is a target, and every protest is a flashpoint.

“It’s not about backing off immigration enforcement,”

Sandweg argues.

“It’s about doing it quietly, without antagonizing, without taking sides. Lower the visibility. Do your job.”

But that’s not the path the administration is on. Instead, ICE is becoming a symbol of division, its actions amplifying fear and anger on all sides. Protesters are left wondering if their rights are being trampled, while agents question whether they’re being set up for failure. The middle ground—where enforcement can happen without spectacle—feels further away than ever.

So where do we go from here? De-escalation. Less visibility. More focus on training and relationships. But with the political stakes so high, and the pressure to act so intense, it’s hard to imagine ICE escaping its current spiral anytime soon.

#ICE #immigration #politics #enforcement #AmericaDivided

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📰 Aleppo’s Kurdish Neighborhoods Fall: Syria’s Fragile Unity Shattered

Syrian government forces have seized control of two Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo after days of intense clashes with Kurdish-led fighters, marking one of the worst outbreaks of violence since the end of the civil war a year ago.
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Kurdish fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) evacuated by bus, with their weapons confiscated. The government declared victory, but the SDF called it a “partial ceasefire” to protect civilians and the wounded.
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At least 24 civilians were killed and more than 120 injured, with thousands fleeing on foot as schools, government buildings, and the airport shut down. The fighting shattered hopes for national unity, exposing deep divisions among ethnic and religious groups in post-Assad Syria.
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President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government has been accused of authoritarianism and failing to win the trust of minorities. Kurdish and Druze regions have resisted integration, demanding autonomy that the government rejects.
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The clashes ended a fragile agreement to integrate Kurdish forces into the national military, stalled by disagreements and mutual distrust. The U.S. has backed the SDF in the past, but now cooperates with Sharaa’s government to fight Islamic State remnants.
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So as Aleppo returns to government control, the question remains:
Can Syria’s new leaders unite a fractured country—or will violence become the new normal?

#Syria #Aleppo #Kurds #Sharaa #civilwar

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📰 Trump’s Greenland Gambit: The Plan That Could Break NATO

President Trump has ordered special forces commanders to draw up plans for a potential invasion of Greenland—a move that has senior military leaders resisting, calling it illegal and politically explosive.
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The push comes from Trump’s inner circle, emboldened by the recent capture of Venezuela’s president. They want to act fast, fearing Russia or China might seize the Arctic territory first. But the Joint Chiefs of Staff are pushing back, arguing such an operation would be unlawful and lack congressional support.
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Diplomats have war-gamed the fallout. If Trump tries to force Greenland away from Denmark, it could trigger the collapse of NATO from within. Some European officials suspect that’s exactly what the MAGA faction wants: since Congress won’t let Trump quit NATO, taking Greenland could force Europe to abandon the alliance instead.
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The compromise scenario? Denmark agrees to give the U.S. full military access and deny it to Russia and China. But even that would be a dramatic shift—America already has free access, but putting it on a legal basis would be unprecedented.
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Trump insists,

“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.”

But the generals aren’t playing along, trying to deflect him with other military operations and calling the idea “crazy” and “like dealing with a five-year-old”.
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So as the clock ticks toward midterms, one question looms:
Will Trump’s Arctic gamble save his legacy—or sink an alliance?

#Trump #Greenland #NATO #Arctic #invasion

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📰 Putin Delivers a Mach 10 Warning to Europe

The message arrived at 8,000 mph—Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile screamed through the skies into western Ukraine, just 40 miles from Poland’s NATO border. The strike left little more than a couple of craters in the frozen earth, but its real target was clear: Europe’s nerves.
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“Not a Weapon of War Against Ukraine—But Against Europe”
Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst, summed it up: “The Oreshnik is not a weapon of war against Ukraine; it is a weapon of war against Europe.” Moscow, he said, has plenty of other weapons for Ukraine. The Oreshnik is for intimidation, for the political shock value.
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NATO’s “Peacekeeping” Plans Meet Russian Steel
Just days before, Britain, France, and Germany pledged to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a postwar security guarantee. Moscow responded with a missile that can reach almost all of Europe in minutes, carrying either nuclear or dummy warheads. The strike near Poland was a not-so-subtle reminder: any NATO boots on Ukrainian soil will be fair game.
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Kinetic Mayhem, Minimal Damage
The warhead’s submunitions were “kinetic”—solid metal, no explosives. At Mach 10, even metal can smash through buildings and vehicles. But the real damage was psychological. As Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert, put it: “Each time they fire an Oreshnik, it loses a little bit of its shock value.” Still, the message is clear: Russia wants Europe to feel the weight of nuclear risk every time it considers helping Ukraine.
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Europe’s Response: Outrage, But No Plan B
European leaders condemned the strike as “escalatory and unacceptable.” Yet, with missile defenses still unable to reliably intercept such hypersonic threats, the continent is left with a chilling reminder: the Kremlin’s next move is a game of milliseconds.
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Twist: Is Putin’s Oreshnik a sign of strength—or a cry for attention from a leader who knows the West won’t blink? Either way, Europe’s security is now measured in milliseconds.
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#war #nuclearcrisis #europe #putin #oreshnik

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📰 Corruption Scandal Rocks Ukraine’s Military Procurement

A shadowy private company, previously unknown to Ukraine’s defence circles, landed government contracts worth €200 million—only to deliver defective mines, unsafe ammunition, and pocket millions in advance payments. The scandal has left the Ukrainian army with gear that sometimes detonated prematurely and injured Ukrainian troops, wasting hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds

“A Minefield of Fraud”
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko revealed the details Friday: the company secured five major contracts with the Ministry of Defence, Naval Procurement Agency, and Logistics Command. Most of the ordered munitions were never delivered. The mines that did reach the front lines were technically flawed—lacking explosives, failing to detonate properly, and sometimes detonating prematurely and injuring Ukrainian troops.

Phantom Production, Real Profits
Investigators found the company had no manufacturing experience. Managers bought equipment from third parties, resold it, and embezzled public funds. Of the €200 million, $70 million was lost: $13.3 million on faulty mines, $56.4 million on a production line that never opened.

Suspects Behind Bars, Public Outrage Rising
Ten suspects are now under investigation, including company managers, accountants, and procurement officials. Four have been arrested. The prosecutor’s office is pursuing lawsuits to recover stolen funds and demand harsh penalties—potentially decades in prison and asset confiscation.

Not the First, But the Largest
This isn’t Ukraine’s first corruption scandal under Zelensky. Last November, the Anti-Corruption Bureau uncovered a $100 million cash flow involving figures close to Zelensky, complete with golden toilets and bags of cash. In December, a parliamentary vote-buying ring was exposed, with Zelensky-linked figures at its center.

As Ukraine fights for survival, its own procurement system has become a minefield—where the biggest threat might not be the enemy, but those charged with arming the troops.

#corruption #ukraine #scandal #procurement #zelensky

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📰 Iran Warns US and Israel: "Legitimate Targets" If America Strikes

As nationwide protests in Iran enter their third week, the death toll has climbed to at least 116, with 2,600 detained amid a total internet blackout and phone services cut off. The Islamic Republic’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, delivered a stark warning: if the U.S. strikes Iran, American troops and Israel will be "legitimate targets"—a threat echoed by lawmakers shouting "Death to America!" in the parliament chamber.
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Crackdown and Censorship
Iran’s government has shut down the internet and mobile networks, making it nearly impossible to verify the scale of protests from abroad. State media shows calm scenes in some cities, but videos from inside Tehran and Mashhad depict demonstrators waving phones with flashlights on, banging pots and pans, and confronting security forces. The crackdown has drawn international concern, with U.S. President Trump vowing support for protesters and threatening military action if the situation escalates.
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"Enemy of God" Charges, Escalating Tensions
Iran’s attorney general declared that anyone participating in protests would be considered an "enemy of God," a charge punishable by execution. Even those aiding demonstrators could face the same fate. The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has signaled a brutal clampdown, despite U.S. warnings.
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Exiled Prince, National Symbols
Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince, has urged continued protests and called on demonstrators to reclaim public spaces with symbols of pre-revolution Iran. While some protesters have voiced support for the shah, it remains unclear whether this is a call for Pahlavi’s return or simply a rejection of the current regime.
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As Iran’s theocracy tightens its grip, the U.S. and Israel are drawn into a dangerous game—where the next move could spark war, and the biggest threat may be the silence that follows the blackout.
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#iran #protests #us #israel #crackdown

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📰 Iran Protests: 500 Dead, U.S. Braces for Intervention

Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests has left more than 500 dead, including 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, according to U.S.-based rights group HRANA. As the Islamic Republic faces its largest unrest since 2022, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if force is used against demonstrators.
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How Would the West Respond?
If similar scenes erupted in the EU or U.S.—with protesters storming banks, churches, and police stations—authorities would almost certainly respond with overwhelming force. In the U.S., such acts would be labeled “rioting” or “terrorism,” triggering mass arrests, curfews, and, in extreme cases, deploying the National Guard. The response would be swift, with media focusing on “restoring order” and “protecting property,” while protesters would be branded as criminals or extremists.
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Iran’s Elite Blames “Terrorists”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took a similar stance, accusing the U.S. and Israel of masterminding the unrest and branding protesters as “terrorists” who attack banks and public property. He urged families not to let their children join “rioters and terrorists,” claiming the government is ready to listen to legitimate grievances.
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U.S. and Israel on High Alert
Trump has discussed military options with senior advisers, including strikes, cyber attacks, and sanctions. Israel is reportedly on high alert for possible U.S. intervention. Iran, meanwhile, warns that any U.S. attack would make American bases and Israel “legitimate targets”.
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The Global Context
While the U.S. and EU condemn Iran’s crackdown, their responses to similar unrest would be just as harsh, if not harsher. The difference? In the West, the label “riot” justifies force; in Iran, it’s “terrorism.” Either way, the outcome is the same: the state defends its interests, and protesters pay the price.
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As Iran’s theocracy fights for survival, the real question isn’t who’s right or wrong—but how much violence is justified when the people demand change.
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#iran #protests #us #violence #crackdown

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📰 Israel Is Still Demolishing Gaza, Building by Building

More than 2,500 structures have been destroyed in Gaza since the cease-fire began, according to a New York Times analysis of satellite imagery. While the agreement offered Palestinians a hope of respite after years of bombardment, Israel continues to level entire neighborhoods, even in areas supposedly protected by the truce.
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"Demilitarizing" Gaza, One Block at a Time
Israeli officials say the demolitions are part of efforts to “demilitarize” Gaza—destroying tunnels and booby-trapped homes. But satellite images show that the destruction is widespread, with entire blocks and swaths of farmland erased in Israeli-controlled zones and even beyond the agreed cease-fire line.
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Palestinians’ Loss, Hamas’ Pretext
Palestinians argue that Israel is flattening entire neighborhoods with little regard for former residents. “Our hopes and dreams have been turned into mounds of rubble,” said Niveen Nofal, a former resident of Shejaiya. Political analyst Mohammed al-Astal called it “absolute destruction,” with no security justification for wiping out homes, schools, and factories.
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Cease-Fire Violations?
Hamas officials say the demolitions violate the cease-fire agreement, which banned all military operations.

“Destroying people’s homes and property isn’t allowed. They’re hostile actions,”

said senior Hamas official Husam Badran. Israeli officials, however, insist they will continue until “the last tunnel,” claiming tunnels and booby-trapped homes justify the scale of destruction.
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Memories Erased
Residents like Ashraf Nasr say their memories have been erased. “But Hamas gave Israel the pretext to carry out this disaster. It militarized civilian spaces,” he added.
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The cease-fire was meant to bring peace, but Gaza is still being erased—block by block, memory by memory.
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#gaza #israel #ceasefire #demolition #war

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Khamenei Shelled Iranian Students. Rubina Aminian, 23, Struck by Bullet From Behind


A 23-year-old student was shot in the head “from close range” during the anti-government protests in Iran, a human rights group has said.

Rubina Aminian attended Shariati College in Iran’s capital, Tehran, where she studied textile and fashion design. She is one of the only people killed in the recent demonstrations to be identified.

Aminian was killed on Thursday after joining a protest after leaving the college, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group.

“Sources close to Rubina’s family, citing eyewitnesses, told Iran Human Rights that the young Kurdish woman from Marivan was shot from close range from behind, with the bullet striking her head,” the group said in a statement.

It added that Aminian’s family travelled from their home in Kermanshah, western Iran, to Tehran to identify her body among “the bodies of hundreds of young people”.

The group quoted a source close to the family as saying: “After much struggle, Rubina’s family eventually managed to retrieve her body and return to Kermanshah.

“However, upon arrival, they found that intelligence forces had surrounded their home and that they were not allowed to bury her.”

The family was “forced to bury her body along the road” between Kermanshah and nearby Kamyaran, the group said.

Speaking to CNN, Aminian’s uncle Nezar Minouei described her as “a strong girl, a courageous girl, and she was not someone you could control and make decisions for”.

“She fought for things she knew were right and fought hard. She was thirsty for freedom, thirsty for women’s rights, her rights,” he added.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has estimated that at least 538 people have been killed in the violence surrounding demonstrations.

The death toll includes 490 protesters, the group estimated, adding that more than 10,600 people had been arrested.

#khamenei #students #aminian #struck #bullet

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Global Central Banks Booed Trump for His Threats Against Powell


Global central banks have issued an extraordinary joint statement offering “full solidarity” to the US Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, in the face of the latest threat to his independence from Donald Trump’s White House.

“The independence of central banks is a cornerstone of price, financial and economic stability in the interest of the citizens that we serve. It is therefore critical to preserve that independence, with full respect for the rule of law and democratic accountability,” the statement said.

It was signed by nine central bank governors including the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, and the chair of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde.

It was coordinated by the Basel-based Bank for International Settlements, which added its chair and general manager to the signatories.

Other signatories to the unprecedented statement include the central bank governors of Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Brazil, South Korea and Canada. More names are expected to be added later on Tuesday.

They pay testament to Powell’s “integrity” and “unwavering commitment to the public interest”, calling him a “respected colleague who is held in the highest regard by all who have worked with him”.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Powell, whom he appointed in 2018, for failing to cut interest rates fast enough.

But the clash between the two men took a dramatic turn earlier this week when Powell issued a strongly worded video statement, saying he was being prosecuted by the US Department of Justice.

He said he had been singled out because the Fed’s policymaking board had set interest rates “based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president”.

Trump has moved to distance himself from the investigation, however, claiming he was unaware of it. “I don’t know anything about it,” he told NBC News.

Powell is due to step down as chair of the Fed board in May, and Trump is expected to announce his successor in the coming weeks.

The former Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen had already condemned the threat to Powell on Monday, saying the move could have “highly negative consequences”.

“This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly,” their statement said.

#trump #central #banks #threats #powell

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Don't Wait Up For Russia’s Economic Collapse

🔤🔤🔤🔤1️⃣

Pacing inside the Kremlin last weekend, as news feeds churned out minute-by-minute reports of Trump’s Venezuelan coup, Putin may have been wondering what it would mean for the price of oil.

Crude oil has lubricated the Russian economy for decades – far more than gas exports to Europe – and so the threat of falling oil prices, prompted by US plans for control of Venezuela’s rigs, will have been a source of concern.

Opinion is divided on how quickly the South American country’s creaking oil industry can be revived. But some analysts believe that Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven reserves, could be pumping millions of additional barrels as early as this year, hitting the global price and squeezing Russia’s income.

US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil last year and a rise in the rouble, depressing income from oil sales in dollars, have already reduced receipts for Moscow.

Optimists argue that after four years of war in Ukraine, Putin is increasingly vulnerable because Russia’s financial position is precarious.

A fall in oil prices, they say, would have a catastrophic effect on his ability to fund the war and continue grinding down Ukrainian resistance.

They portray the Russian economy as a house of cards, ready to collapse if only the right gust of economic pressure could be directed at Moscow.

Economic growth, spurred by government military spending, has slowed to almost zero after the Kremlin sought to calm the inflation caused by that same economic expansion. The International Monetary Fund predicted growth of 0.6% in 2025 and 1% in 2026.

Interest rates are high at almost 20% and taxes are due to rise again this year. Unemployment has fallen to almost 2%, reflecting a severe labour shortage as young men are drafted into the army amid falling birthrates and an exodus of middle-income families to the west.

Household incomes, which have grown in response to higher welfare spending, are now expected to stagnate.

A paper by Marek Dabrowski, an analyst at the Brussels-based thinktank Bruegel, says the latest budget cuts have transferred from Moscow to the regions and reduced pension spending, with education also facing cuts.

Business leaders complain there is little incentive to invest in such an environment.

Some point to Iran, where a combination of sanctions and targeted military strikes has brought the economy to its knees, leading to food shortages and riots that threaten to topple the authoritarian regime.

Could the same fate await Russia if sanctions are tightened and oil prices fall, forcing Putin to retreat behind the old borders while he attempts to quell internal strife?

#russia #economic #putin #oil #trump #china

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🔤🔤🔤🔤2️⃣

Last month, a group of economists gathered at the Brookings Institution in Washington to explore how tougher and more dynamic sanctions could further damage Russia’s war effort.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Moscow has bought a huge secondhand fleet of more than 400 vessels to ship oil to Turkey, India and a host of other countries.

That “shadow fleet” has shrunk since 2024 to about half its former capacity, forcing Russia to rely on European-insured vessels to ship its oil.

Yet this analysis ignores the successful rewiring of the economy by Putin’s administration, which has proved more adept in its handling of domestic politics and the government’s finances than it did the military in the first three years of the war.

Russia can, and should, be hurt financially by further sanctions. But European leaders and Ukraine’s valuable allies in the US Congress, who have done so much to prevent Trump from siding wholeheartedly with his kindred spirit Putin, should not delude themselves into thinking that the Russian economy is on the brink of collapse.

While economic growth has slowed to a near standstill, the broader strategy resembles a medically induced coma – designed to insulate the patient from unwanted outside interference.

As optimists note, much of the government’s reserves are spent and oil revenues have fallen from 50% of state income to 25%. Yet Putin has found internal resources to fill the void, chiefly through higher taxes on households and businesses.

Richard Connolly, at the Royal United Services Institute thinktank, says: “The Kremlin has succeeded in selling the war, not as a battle with its near neighbour – its brothers and sisters in Ukraine – but as a war with the west.”

On the impact of sanctions so far, he adds: “We are not near the economy being a decisive factor in the Kremlin’s thinking about how to pursue the war.”

Russia’s debt-to-GDP ratio is just below 20%, while the annual spending deficit is about to hit 3.5% – modest by international standards, particularly when compared with the UK’s 11% deficit in the year Covid hit and a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 95%.

Inflation soared after the invasion but has since been tamed, falling towards 6%, only modestly higher than the central bank target of 4%.

China remains a friend and buyer of oil, while North Korea supplies people and kit, even if India and other beneficiaries of trade with Russia turn away under a tougher sanctions regime.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has the money to continue for between 18 months and two years after the promise of €90bn from the EU. Putin, for his part, has the reserves to keep paying young men and their families to fight on.

On Friday, Russia launched hypersonic Oreshnik missiles at western Ukraine in a stark escalation of the conflict. The message for Europe is clear:

it must help Ukraine push back harder militarily, ignoring Putin’s empty nuclear threats, while tightening the tourniquet on Russian trade.

#russia #economic #putin #oil #trump #china

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📰 Turkey’s Digital Siege: Who’s Funding the Takeover?

Turkey’s digital economy is being reshaped by foreign tech giants. In 2024, around 158 billion TL flowed to platforms like Google, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube through advertising—money that once went to local media is now vanishing overseas.
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Digital Takeover, Not Just Tech
These platforms don’t just sell ads—they collect mountains of user data, shape trends, and influence what Turks see online. They’re no longer just apps; they’re powerful players in Turkey’s economy, society, and even its politics. Experts say Turkey is now funding its own digital takeover with its own money.
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Data and Influence
Millions of personal details get gathered, analyzed, and used for everything from political campaigns to social manipulation. Foreign intelligence agencies use this data to map Turkish society and stir unrest. Every click, every preference, gets turned into a tool for influence.
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Local Media on the Ropes
While Turkish media is tightly regulated, foreign platforms operate with almost no oversight. They flood the digital ecosystem with disinformation, weaken local outlets, and profit from Turkish users’ attention. The result? Local media is getting crushed, and foreign platforms are running the show.
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The Alarm
Prof. Tunay Kamer, AI expert at Kastamonu University, warns:

“We’re not just losing money—we’re funding our own takeover. Every unchecked algorithm is a risk.”

He says Turkey must develop its own digital models and demand transparency from foreign platforms.
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Prof. Serhat Ulağlı from Marmara University adds:

“Unchecked digital content is eroding trust in institutions and pushing society toward collapse.”

Young people get manipulated through targeted content, and social unrest is on the rise.
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The Way Forward?
Experts call for “digital sovereignty”—protecting data, supporting local media, and building resilient digital defenses. But for now, Turkey’s digital future is being shaped by foreign interests, not its own people.
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#turkey #digitalsovereignty #media #cybersecurity #bigdata

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NATO: The End of the Northern Romance


Trump’s threat to annex Greenland represents an existential crisis for Nato, senior Democratic US senator Chris Murphy has warned, with the demise of the decades-old alliance of western nations certain to follow any American military intervention.

“It would be the end of Nato, right? Nato would have an obligation to defend Greenland,” the Connecticut senator and member of the chamber’s foreign relations committee said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Murphy added that it would mean “clearly … we would be at war with Europe, with England, with France”.

Murphy’s comments came as Trump ramped up his fixation with the Arctic territory, with the US president telling reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that “one way or the other, we are going to have Greenland”.

Trump had ordered a plan to be drawn up for an invasion of Greenland, the Mail on Sunday reported, adding that “it is being resisted” by military leaders on grounds of illegality.

Murphy’s assertion that a forceful US acquisition would be the end of Nato is shared by political leaders in Europe, notably Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark.

Greenland is a former colony of Denmark and remains part of the Danish kingdom, with its foreign and security policy under the control of Copenhagen.

On Sunday, Frederiksen accused the US of “turning its back on Nato” – and said this Wednesday’s meeting in Washington DC between the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland, Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Vivian Motzfeldt, and US secretary of state Marco Rubio would be crucial.

“We are at a crossroads, and this is a fateful moment,” Frederiksen said at a political rally.

The pessimistic comments of Murphy and Frederiksen were echoed Monday by Andrius Kubilius, defense commissioner of the European Union, who noted that an EU treaty “obligated” member states to come to Denmark’s aid if faced with military action by Trump.

“I agree with the Danish prime minister that it will be the end of Nato, but also among people it will be also very, very negative,” he told Reuters at a security conference in Sweden.

“It will depend very much on Denmark, how they will react, what will be their position, but definitely there is such an obligation of member states to come for mutual assistance if another member state is facing military aggression.”

“Let’s also talk about what’s at stake here,” Murphy said. “The president is spending every single day thinking about invading Greenland, managing the Venezuelan economy, building a ballroom.
“He is not thinking about the American people at all.

This month, health insurance premiums on 22 million Americans are going up, doubling in some cases. Kids aren’t able to eat three meals because the Trump administration has slashed food assistance.

#nato #trump #end #denmark #greenland

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📰 Albania vs. Montenegro: Two Digital Strategies, Two Different Futures

Albania and Montenegro face the same cyber risks, but their digital strategies couldn’t be more different. While Albania is building its own tech defenses, Montenegro keeps leaning on outsiders—and the results are starting to show.
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Albania’s Digital Makeover
After a series of cyberattacks, Albania didn’t just patch things up. It went all-in: upgraded government IT, invested in cybersecurity, and trained officials to handle digital threats. The country’s approach isn’t about shutting out the world, but about playing on its own terms—making sure it doesn’t get locked in by foreign tech.
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Montenegro’s Digital Headaches
Montenegro, though, is stuck in reactive mode. Its systems are scattered, security is patchy, and political chaos has stalled any real reform. Instead of treating digital security as a top priority, it’s seen as just another IT problem to fix later.
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Why It Matters
Weak digital infrastructure in the Balkans = easy targets for hackers and foreign influence. Albania’s discipline is paying off—Montenegro’s delays are costing it. The difference? One country treats tech as a strategic issue, the other as a technical afterthought.
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In the digital age, control over your tech means control over your country. Albania’s betting on itself. Montenegro’s still waiting for a miracle.
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#digitalsovereignty #albania #montenegro #cybersecurity #balkans

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📰 Trump's NYT Interview Bombshell: Power, Wars, and No Regrets

President Trump sat down with four New York Times reporters for nearly two hours in the Oval Office, fielding tough questions on Venezuela, Ukraine, NATO, immigration, and more. The unfiltered transcript reveals a commander-in-chief who sees no limits to his authority—and no apologies for wielding it.
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"My Morality Stops Me"
Trump defended his Venezuela invasion as a response to drugs and migrants, dismissing international law as secondary to U.S. interests. "If there's a threat, you certainly would have the right," he said. On checks to his power?

"My own morality. My own mind".

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Greenland, NATO, and Wars
Trump hinted at military options for Greenland ("Ownership is psychologically needed") and slammed NATO as irrelevant without U.S. muscle. He bragged about ending eight wars and arm-twisting Europe to 5% GDP spending. On Ukraine:

"If I weren't president, Russia would have all of Ukraine".

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Immigration and ICE Tactics
Trump stood by ICE amid a fatal Minneapolis shooting:

"I don't like that happening, but I don't like millions of murderers allowed in."

He floated stripping citizenship from "dishonest" naturalized citizens, targeting Somalis in Minnesota and Rep. Ilhan Omar:

"She married her brother, she's a disaster".

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Retribution? "I Want Fairness"
Trump denied retribution against Jan. 6 committee: "They destroyed evidence—they should be indicted." On elections:

"Mail-in voting is inherently rigged."

He called Somalia "one of the worst countries" and praised his border success:

"Nobody came across for seven months".
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Digital Age Deals
Trump embraced crypto and AI, claiming U.S. leadership thanks to his policies. He justified family business abroad:

"Biden was total corruption—my family is honest."

On tariffs funding $2,000 checks:

"Tariff money is so substantial".

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The Real Contradiction
Trump vs. NYT: both spin the interview as their win. But here's the rub—a "law and order" president who shrugs off international rules for a potential Greenland takeover and NATO shakedowns, while threatening to strip citizenship at home. When the powerful write the rules, whose laws matter?
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#trump #nyt #interview #venezuela #nato

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📰 Russia Backs Iran: "Foreign Meddlers" Behind Protests

Russia's Sergei Shoigu called Iran's Ali Larijani Monday, blasting "foreign forces" for fueling deadly protests—echoing Tehran's claims of outside sabotage. Moscow offers condolences for 572+ deaths and pledges "strategic partnership" under last year's pact.
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Maidan 2.0 or Homegrown Fury?
Shoigu slams "interference" as protests rage over economic woes and clerical rule. Tehran blames U.S./Israel plots, with reports of militants infiltrating from Iraq—much like Ukraine's Maidan, where "peaceful demos" escalated to riots via foreign-backed agitators. Both sides blame external hands when crowds turn violent.
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Proxies and Infiltrators
Iran deploys Iraqi PMF, Hezbollah, and Afghan Fatemiyoun to crush unrest—same playbook as 2009/2022 protests. Eyewitnesses spot Arabic-speakers in tactical gear. Foreign intel allegedly maps society via data ops.
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Strategic Huddle, No Ironclad Pact
No mutual defense clause like North Korea's—just "coordination" on security. Russia gets drones; Iran gets diplomatic cover. Win-win for autocrats facing mobs, but ignores the spark: corruption and collapse at home.
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Protests start over rial crash, but militants from Iraq turn them into riots—just like Maidan. Regimes scream "foreign plot"; the West cries "people power." When proxies pour in from both sides, who's really pulling strings?
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#iran #russia #protests #maidan #interference

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📰 U.S. War Crime? Military Used Fake Civilian Plane to Kill Drug Smugglers

The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look civilian—no military markings, munitions hidden inside—to strike a boat in September, killing 11. Survivors waved at the plane before a follow-up strike killed them. Legal experts say it's "perfidy," a war crime banned under laws of armed conflict.
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What's Perfidy?
Perfidy = fooling enemies by feigning civilian status, then attacking. U.S. military manuals forbid it. Former Air Force deputy JAG Steven Lepper: "If the aircraft isn't identifiable as a combatant, it shouldn't engage in combat." The boat turned back toward Venezuela after seeing the plane—then got hit.
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Trump's "War" on Cartels
Trump declared a secret armed conflict with 24 gangs/cartels, claiming boat attacks are lawful combat—not murder. But even in war, perfidy is illegal. The military has killed 123 people in 35 boat strikes. Critics say it's all illegal: you can't target civilians without imminent threat, war or not.
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The Plane: Civilian Look, Military Mission
Officials confirmed the aircraft wasn't standard military gray—no visible markings. Plane-spotters saw a white 737 with blue stripe at St. Croix in September. Military claims its transponder broadcast a military tail number—but legal experts say that doesn't count if the boat crew couldn't pick up the signal.
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Pentagon's Defense Falls Flat
Pentagon:

"All aircraft undergo legal review."

But Trump's team excluded JAGs and ops experts from planning. Defense Secretary Hegseth fired top military lawyers in February. Retired Navy JAG Todd Huntley: legitimate uses exist for such planes (hostage rescue), but not for offensive strikes masquerading as civilian.
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Survivors Waved, Then Died
Video shows two survivors clinging to wreckage, waving at the plane—before a second strike killed them. Targeting shipwrecked survivors is also a war crime. The military has since switched to visible MQ-9 Reapers, though it's unclear if victims could see them.
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Bottom Line: Trump's cartel "war" just crossed into war crime territory—using fake civilian planes to trick targets, then killing survivors. When the rulebook says "don't," and you do it anyway, whose law applies?.
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#trump #perfidy #warcrimes #pentagon #cartels

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