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The newly elected Pope Leo XIV has suggested that the Vatican could host high-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, as Istanbul talks were watered down following Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to come face to face with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin's statement on Friday, the supreme pontiff plans to "if necessary, provide the Vatican, the Holy See, as a direct meeting (place) between the two sides." Parolin has also expressed his disappointment with the talks in Turkey, which took place on Friday. "It's all tragic because we hoped that a...

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said Sunday on MSNBC’s “Ali Velshi” that the Trump administration was attempting to silence Congress and suspend the Constitution. When asked about the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at the Delaney Hall Detention Center last week, Van Hollen said, “The assault that we’re witnessing right now is the Trump administration’s assault on the Constitution and due process rights, and in this case separation of powers and the ability of Congress to get the facts. We even had Stephen Miller, the other day, the president, one of his top advisers, talk about suspending the Constitution,...

Long before she was a Fox News host who pushed pro-Trump election conspiracy theories, Jeanine Pirro was an ambitious New York politician whose career stalled after she was recorded plotting to bug her then-husband’s boat to catch him in an affair. The revelation rocked Pirro’s campaign for New York attorney general nearly 20 years ago, resulting in days of front-page headlines in the city’s tabloids (“BUG THIS LOVE BOAT!” blared the Daily News cover). The conversation took place in 2005 between Pirro and the former commissioner of the New York Police Department, Bernard Kerik, a close ally of Rudy Giuliani’s....

When Americans were experiencing inflation and shortages during the Biden presidency, there was an internet meme going around that juxtaposed a paltry egg with the iconic 2019 image of a grinning Donald Trump, welcoming the national championship–winning Clemson Tigers to the White House, spreading his arms to display a massive bounty of burgers piled in front of him. The underlying message behind that joke became a central part of the 2024 campaign: Under Trump, Americans had plenty; under Biden-Harris, they had less. Yet bizarrely, the man who for decades has been a symbol of unapologetic American excess is now defending...

The absolute key to the first quarter GDP result is to remember that ‘imports‘ are a deduction in the economic equation of Gross Domestic Product. The GDP is the valuation of all goods and services produced in the USA *minus* the value of imports.The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) releases the results of the first quarter GDP. The overall economic growth seems low at –0.3% until you look at how U.S. companies responded in February and March to the tariff announcement.Companies proactively purchased massive amounts of products in advance of the tariffs leading to an overall increase in imports of...

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have put Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on notice: Don't mess with the name Fort Cavazos. With support from President Donald Trump, Hegseth has begun reversing a Biden-era initiative to remove the names of Confederate figures from military installations. Hegseth has restored names with Confederate connotations to two Army bases, and he has vowed to continue. That has sparked fears that the Central Texas armored division base named for Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, the Army's first Hispanic four-star general, could be next. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is trying to get in front...

China just raised the stakes in its standoff with Washington. Despite President Trump's recent attempts to dial down the rhetoric and hint at possible tariff relief, Beijing isn't budging. A spokesperson from China's Commerce Ministry flatly rejected any notion of progress, calling U.S. claims of renewed dialogue groundless. The message: if the U.S. wants to talk, it needs to first undo the damagestarting with a full rollback of unilateral tariffs, now as high as 145%. China also made it clear that future talks hinge on more than just kind words; Washington needs to get serious about core issues like sanctions...

BEIJING (AP) — China threatened Tuesday to take countermeasures against the United States "to safeguard its own rights and interests” in response to President Donald Trump’s threat of an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports.The Commerce Ministry statement said the U.S.‘s imposition of “so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’” on China is “completely groundless and is a typical unilateral bullying practice.”China has taken retaliatory tariffs and the ministry hinted more many be coming.“The countermeasures China has taken are aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and maintaining the normal international trade order. They are completely legitimate,” the ministry said. “The U.S....

Stock markets across Asia and Europe have been hit with significant lows, as tariff announcements by US President Donald Trump continue to be felt across the markets. If you're just joining us now, here's what you've missed so far this morning: In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index closed down 13.22% which marks a 28-year low for the exchange In Taiwan, a 9.7% drop at close resulted in a record low for Taipei's TAIEX index In Europe, the UK's FTSE 100 index opened nearly 6% down and Germany's Dax plunged almost 10% at the start of trading European markets have...

US President Donald Trump on Saturday doubled down on the sweeping tariffs he unleashed on countries around the world, warning Americans of pain ahead, but promising historic investment and prosperity.The comments came as Trump's widest-ranging tariffs took effect in a move that could trigger retaliation and escalating trade tensions that could upset the global economy."We have been the dumb and helpless 'whipping post,' but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform."This is an economic revolution, and we will win," he added. "Hang tough, it won't be easy,...

Democratic strategist James Carville declared Wednesday on Fox News Channel’s “The Story” that the Trump administration was “in total meltdown.” Carville said, “Total meltdown!’ Carville said, “I think people are afraid to death. They see markets collapsing! They see people calling Mark Kelly a traitor. They see disorder everywhere. You know, Trump was going to bring the price of eggs down from day one.” He continued, “We can’t call the Enola Gay, the Enola Gay. I mean, what’s coming out of Washington would scare the living bejesus out of anybody, independent, Republican or Democrat. This administration is in total meltdown,...

Rosie O’Donnell has officially left the United States. After hinting about her relocation last week, in a Tuesday TikTok video, the television personality confirmed she moved to Ireland on Jan. 15 with her 12-year-old daughter Dakota. “It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And I’m very grateful,” O’Donnell, 62, said in the clip. The comedian added that she is “in the process” of getting her Irish citizenship since her grandparents are from the country. “I was never someone who thought I would move to another country, that’s what I...

Donald Trump said Ukraine “may not survive” as the White House put pressure on Volodymyr Zelensky to give up territory seized by Russia.Ahead of the start of peace talks in Saudi Arabia this week, Mr Trump suggested Ukraine may cease to exist as a sovereign state.Mr Zelensky has been told he must show he is willing to cede land occupied by Russia if he wants Washington to lift its ban on weapons and intelligence sharing.The US president has repeatedly called for Ukraine to sign a minerals deal that would give the US access to 50 per cent of Ukraine’s mineral...

Mark Carney has been elected as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Carney clinched victory decisively, on the first ballot, in a race that was set in motion earlier this year by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.

Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau on Sunday blocked Russia-aligned, far-right candidate Călin Georgescu from running in May’s presidential election. The bureau said it would post the reasons for its decision later, brushing off objections from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump that the firebrand NATO skeptic should be permitted to stand. The Digi24 news service said the electoral bureau had voted against allowing Georgescu, the frontrunner, to proceed by a margin of 10 to 4. An appeal can run until Wednesday. Georgescu came out of nowhere to win the first round of the presidential vote last November, partly on the...

Norway boosts spending on Ukraine by NOK 50 billion ($4.6 billion) Has benefited from high gas prices Norway lags Nordic neighbours on Ukraine aid OSLO, March 6 (Reuters) - Norway will more than double its financial pledge to Ukraine this year while also hiking its own defence spending, the prime minister said on Thursday, declaring the Nordic country faced its most serious security situation for 80 years. Norway, home to the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with assets of $1.8 trillion, has seen soaring income from gas sales to Europe as a result of Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion, and faces...

ESSENCE OF UKRAINE SUPPORTERS: "British troops should be in Ukraine, but I'm a conscientious objector" (Video at URL) ...

Vice President JD Vance on Monday said Trump administration officials are already in talks to put on a settlement to the years-long war Russia launched against Ukraine, and warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needs to accept Donald Trump’s terms for a mineral rights deal and enter negotiations with Moscow.Vance’s demand that Zelensky accept the U.S.-backed mineral rights deal follows the Ukrainian leader’s ejection Friday from the White House after an Oval Office shouting match with Vance and Trump.It also comes just hours after the Trump administration announced it was halting some defense aid to Kyiv at a crucial time...

Thoughts?......................

McCain blasts the American administration over its Ukraine response. well I'll say this senator I've known 2:00 you for a long long time interviewed you 2:02 many many times I've never heard you say 2:05 I'm ashamed of my country which you just 2:07 said.