Looks like the Vatican is getting an overhaul

FULL CENTCOM STATEMENT ON NAVEL BLOCKADE:

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation.

The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade. All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.

A Madrid judge, Juan Carlos Peinado, has formally charged Begoña Gómez (wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez) with influence peddling, bribery (also described as corruption in the private sector/business corruption), embezzlement of public funds, and misappropriation. The judge has closed the investigation and referred the case to trial before a popular jury.

Quick context on the case:

The probe began in April 2024 after a complaint from the union Manos Limpias (often described as right-leaning or far-right adjacent). It initially focused on alleged influence peddling and business corruption tied to Gómez’s role directing a master’s program at Complutense University in Madrid, sponsorship deals, and connections to companies that benefited from government contracts or COVID-era rescue funds.

It later expanded to include embezzlement (allegedly using a public advisor from the Prime Minister’s office for personal work) and other charges. Gómez has testified multiple times, always denying any wrongdoing.

The case has been highly politicized. Sánchez and his Socialist (PSOE) government have repeatedly called it “lawfare” — a politically motivated attack orchestrated by the right-wing opposition. The defense can still appeal the indictment to a higher court.

This comes amid other scandals affecting Sánchez’s fragile coalition government, but the prime minister has defended his wife and dismissed the accusations as part of a smear campaign. Spanish media (El País, El Mundo, El Correo) and international outlets like Bloomberg are all reporting the development in real time.

The story is moving fast — expect more details as the trial process begins.

XRP Replacing the Petrodollar: Key Points from the Strait of Hormuz Crisis

The events in the Strait of Hormuz—handling ~20% of global oil and LNG flows—are creating a real-world stress test that could accelerate a shift away from dollar-denominated energy trade. Analysts see this as opening a window for XRP to step in as a neutral, efficient bridge for high-volume settlements. Here are the core possibilities driving this thesis:

Hormuz forces countries to experiment with non-dollar settlements: Iran’s selective tolls and payments in yuan, stablecoins, or crypto are teaching nations how to transact energy trade outside the petrodollar system. This real-time demonstration of alternatives could normalize crypto rails for oil shipments, with XRP positioned as a fast, low-friction option for the 130+ tankers that normally move through daily.

XRP’s design matches the exact needs of global energy settlement: Built from the ground up for institutional cross-border liquidity, XRP delivers near-instant, low-cost finality on the XRPL. Unlike physical gold (which can’t handle real-time high-volume flows), XRP provides the neutral digital liquidity layer that can bridge any two currencies directly—perfect for oil contracts settled between sanction-hit or dedollarizing nations.

Petrodollar architect Jim Rickards flags Ripple as viable: When asked what Iran might accept for Hormuz tolls instead of dollars, Rickards named Bitcoin, Tether, and Ripple as plausible sovereign settlement tools. This endorsement from the man who helped architect the original petrodollar system highlights XRP’s credibility for large-scale energy payments.

A handful of tokens (including XRP) fit the new multipolar role: As countries move toward a multi-asset, multi-polar system, only a few digital assets combine speed, liquidity, regulatory progress, and neutrality. Analysts like Mickle argue XRP is strategically positioned exactly where gold once was—but now in digital form—for real-time global trade settlement.

Geopolitical chaos could fast-track Ripple’s infrastructure as the new backbone: The crisis amplifies demand for bypasses around SWIFT and politicized rails. With ISO 20022 adoption, CBDC pilots, and Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity already live, XRP could become the programmable bridge in a tokenized commodity world—settling oil, gold, and energy trades 24/7 without intermediaries or dollar dependency.

Instant liquidity and neutrality solve oil-trade pain points: XRP eliminates FX friction, counterparty risk, and sanction exposure by acting as a neutral intermediary currency. In a world where Iran-China deals already flow outside the dollar, scaling this to broader energy corridors via XRPL becomes a practical, efficient path forward.

In short, the Hormuz crisis isn’t just disrupting oil—it’s exposing the petrodollar’s vulnerabilities and spotlighting XRP’s readiness as a real-time, neutral settlement asset for the emerging post-dollar energy trade era. If adoption momentum builds from these experiments, XRP could play a pivotal role in the next chapter of global finance.

This black woman executes a white woman, and an DEI activist judge decided she’s not competent to stand trial.

OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR!!!

Eric Swalwell makes a new friend 😩😝

The truth about the COVID vaccine, they don't want you to know about.

They knew it would destroy your immune system causing VAIDS. Boosters have 8 strands of HIV, which shuts off your ability to make white blood cells

SHOCK VIDEO Surfaces of “Bleary-Eyed” Eric Swalwell Spotted in Robe Partying on Luxury St. Tropez Yacht Packed with Young Women

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/shock-video-surfaces-bleary-eyed-eric-swalwell-spotted/

Man Who Called Tesla Before It Soared 2,150%… Now Sees Something 14X Bigger Than ChatGPT

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/man-who-called-tesla-before-it-soared-2150-7/