2 May, 2025 19:02

EU nastier than China – TrumpKEK

The US president accused the bloc of unfair trade practices, including barriers to American car exports and shifting pharmaceutical costs

US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of the European Union, labeling it “nastier than China” regarding trade practices.

In early April, Washington imposed a sweeping 20% tariff on all EU goods and a 25% tariff on all car imports and metals. While Trump later announced a 90-day reprieve on most trade duties, a baseline 10% tariff and the above-mentioned 25% tariff remain in force until an agreement is reached.

“The European Union is in many ways nastier than China,” Trump stated during a press conference at the White House on Monday.

“They treated us very unfairly. They sell us 13 million cars; we sell them none. They sell us their agricultural products; we sell them virtually none,” the president claimed, adding that Brussels has been “suing all our companies… Apple, Google, Meta.”

The American leader predicted that the EU would “come down a lot,” since the US holds “all the cards.”

Trump further stated that the bloc is also to blame, at least in part, for the excessively high prices that Americans have to pay for prescription drugs. According to the president, Brussels has been unfairly exerting “brutal” pressure on pharmaceutical companies to keep prices low in Europe, while refusing to shoulder the fair share of the firms’ research and development and other related costs.

However, Washington is now set to “equalize” the situation, Trump promised, concluding that “Europe is gonna have to pay a little bit more…. And America is gonna pay a lot less.”

Trump’s remarks came hours after Washington and Beijing agreed during negotiations in Geneva to scrap or suspend most of the new trade duties introduced since early April, pending further talks.

As a result, overall US tariffs on Chinese goods will stand at 30% and Chinese tariffs on US goods will be 10%, starting May 14. The two nations will also set up a consultation mechanism to work out further trade policy steps.

The EU, for its part, has made several attempts at negotiating trade and tariffs with the US, though none of them have so far yielded a breakthrough.

Last Thursday, theEuropean Commission presented a list of countermeasures which could affect €95 billion worth of US goods should negotiations fail.

Trump’s trade adviserPeter Navarro warned Brussels that it would be “making a grave mistake” if it went through with the threat, which he described as counterproductive to the talks.

https://www.rt.com/news/617438-trump-eu-nastier-than-china-trade/

12 May, 2025 16:59

Trump hopeful for Russia-Ukraine talks

The US president mentioned the possibility of taking part in the Moscow-proposed talks himself

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his hopes that direct talks between Moscow and Kiev as proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place and suggested he could even take part in them.

Trump delivered the remarks during a press conference on Monday, describing the proposed meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, as “very important.” He even floated the possibility that he might participate in the negotiations.

“I think you may have a good result at the Thursday meeting in Türkiye between Russia and Ukraine.I believe the two leaders are going to be there. I was thinking about flying over. I don’t know where I’m going to be on Thursday, I’ve got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there,” Trump stated.

The suggestion was swiftly welcomed by Ukraine’s leader, Vladimir Zelensky, who called it a “right idea” that could “change a lot.”

Early on Sunday, Putin proposed resuming direct peace negotiations with Kiev without any preconditions, stating that the talks could ultimately yield “some kind of new truce” and a ceasefire. “We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their aim is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to achieve a long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective,” the president stressed.

The proposal received a mixed reaction from Kiev and its Western backers, all of whom reiterated their demand to establish a 30-day truce before beginning any negotiations. Trump, however, urged Kiev to “immediately” accept the proposal and engage in talks.

It was not immediately clear on what basis Trump concluded that the Russian and Ukrainian leaders would be meeting on Thursday. After Trump urged Ukraine to agree to the proposal, Zelensky claimed he would be waiting for Putin in Türkiye “personally” but reiterated the 30-day ceasefire demand.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s position that Russia remains committed to “resuming direct talks in Istanbul without any preconditions” but did not comment on the prospect of Putin participating in the talks.

https://www.rt.com/news/617434-trump-russia-ukraine-talks/

(I hope Trump goes so he can see how arrogant, demanding and a liar Zelensky is, or maybe Trump is trying to stop that and them make the deal.)

12 May, 2025 15:29

‘Stop the clownery’ – top Russian MP to Zelensky (VIDEO)

Leonid Slutsky has urged the Ukrainian leadership to rescind a 2022 order banning direct negotiations with Moscow

A senior Russian MP has blasted Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky for continuing to block peace negotiations with Moscow, saying Kiev should “stop the clownery” and return to diplomacy.

In an interview with RT on Monday, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky noted that Zelensky “banned negotiations for himself.” He was referring to the Ukrainian leader’s 2022 order banning direct negotiations with Russia as long as President Vladimir Putin remains in office.

“He should recall his first profession less often and stop the clownery,” Slutsky said, in an apparent jab at Zelensky’s past as a comedian.

On Sunday, the Russian president proposed resuming direct negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions on May 15 in Istanbul. The peace settlement process must start with talks, which could ultimately yield “some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire,” according to Putin.

Slutsky urged the Ukrainian leadership be “rational,” calling negotiations the “only sensible step.”

“We are ready to choose our delegation and fly to Istanbul even this minute,” he said. “Of course, the talks won’t be easy, but I hope we can truly bring the military phase of this conflict to an end. It is in everyone’s interest.”

The lawmaker claimed that worldwide support for Russia’s offer is growing as the global majority has formed around Putin’s ideas of a multipolar world. “We must face reality and start negotiations. I urge everyone to morally support this position,” Slutsky said.

He added that the number of countries supporting the conflict is “approaching zero,” and that “the path toward peace has been laid out by the Russian president, endorsed by US President [Donald Trump] and all reasonable people.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/617426-slutsky-ukraine-negotitaions/

12 May, 2025 13:42

African state orders expulsion of French embassy staff – media

Algeria accuses France of bypassing diplomatic protocol, including failing to notify Algiers before appointing personnel

Algeria has ordered the immediate dismissal of a number of French diplomatic personnel whose appointments by Paris did not follow established protocols, the North African state’s press service (APS) reported on Sunday.

According to the outlet, France did not comply with required procedures in the appointments of at least fifteen employees who were assigned to diplomatic or consular positions in Algiers.

On Sunday, Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a senior French embassy official to protest “serious and repeated” breaches of international conventions governing diplomatic appointments.

“These employees, who previously held mission passports, have been granted diplomatic passports to facilitate their entry into Algeria… The same list included two employees from the French Ministry of the Interior, who were intended to perform part of the duties of those recently declared persona non grata,” APS reported, citing sources.

The alleged diplomatic breach comes as relations between the two countries remain strained on several fronts.Algeria has accused France of repeatedly denying entry to holders of Algerian diplomatic passports. The accreditation process for the former French colony’s newly appointed Consuls General in Paris and Marseille, as well as seven other consular officials, has reportedly also been stalled for over five months.

The latest move follows a similar expulsion in April, when Algeria ordered 12 French embassy staff to leave the country over what it described as “hostile acts” and interference in internal affairs. The decision came shortly after the arrest of an Algerian consular official in France, who is one of three Algerians charged with kidnapping government critic Amir Boukhors in 2024.

The arrest sparked outrage in Algiers, which condemned it as a violation of diplomatic immunity.Tensions have since worsened, fueled by disputes over visa policies, unresolved colonial-era grievances, and France’s support for Morocco’s position on the Western Sahara issue.

Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in an effort to mend fraying ties, during which both leaders agreed to maintain dialogue.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Trump cross his arms like Macron is doing, when in conversation.Macron is so disrespectful.

https://www.rt.com/africa/617420-algeria-orders-french-embassy-staff-expulsion/

Algeria will be the 5th or 6th nation that kicks France out of Africa! Africa does not like Macron or France

12 May, 2025 16:04

Ukrainian membership of EU would drag bloc into war – Hungary

Kiev’s potential membership in the bloc would escalate the conflict, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned

Admitting Ukraine into the EU would only prolong the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev and risk dragging the bloc into the conflict, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned.

Ukraine, which has made EU membership a national priority, formally applied to join the bloc in February 2022, days after the escalation of the conflict with Russia.Hungary has repeatedly pushed back against the EU’s goal of admitting Ukraine by 2030 – a target recently reiterated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

On Monday, Orban reiterated Budapest’s opposition to accession, calling it a decision that could shape the bloc’s future for the worse.

“As a country neighboring Ukraine, we believe that if Ukraine is admitted to the European Union, it will mean war,” Orban told the conference of EU parliamentary speakers in Budapest. The EU has never accepted a country at war – and for “good reason,” he added.

The Hungarian leader also expressed regret over the commitment of some EU leaders to continued military aid for Kiev.

“We have a different view. We think the longer the war lasts, the more lives will be lost and the worse the situation will become on the battlefield,” Orban said.

Ukraine still faces major hurdleson its path to joining the bloc, with full membership requiring unanimous EU approval and sweeping reforms, including anti-corruption efforts, improved governance, and legal alignment with EU standards.

Orban has long opposed Ukraine’s integration into Western institutions, including NATO, arguing that its accession could escalate tensions with Russia. He suggested that the country should instead remain a “buffer” between Russia and the West.

While Russia has consistently rejected the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, its position on EU accession has been more restrained. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Ukraine has the “sovereign right” to join the bloc, provided that it remains a matter of economic integration and not military alignment.

However, Russian officials have warned that the line between civilian and military in the EU is becoming blurred. Peskov has accused the bloc of actively working to prolong the Ukraine conflict by repeatedly expressing its intention to support Kiev in its desire to “continue the war.” He has also criticized Brussels for undermining peace efforts by portraying Russia as the bloc’s primary adversary.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the EU is “becoming militarized at a record pace,” adding that there is now “very little difference” between the EU and NATO.

https://www.rt.com/news/617430-ukraine-eu-membership-war/

I don’t know how many times Orban has to bring this up, EU would be taking on a Welfare state that will sap all their money, additionally Ukraine will never stop their war on Russia. They send terrorists to Russia monthly or every couple of months. If the EU does this, they will regret the day they made that stupid mistake.

12 May, 2025 14:51

Ukrainian recruiter filmed beating potential draftee (VIDEO)

Authorities in Kharkov insist that the civilian – who wasn’t seen resisting – “provoked” the incident

A Ukrainian military recruiter has been filmed punching a man twice in the stomach, according to footage widely shared on social media.The victim appeared to offer no resistance, although local authorities accused him of “provocative actions.”

The incident reportedly took place during an ID check in the northeastern city of Kharkov. The footage, which was undated, was filmed from a nearby building and was shared by the Strana.ua outlet on Sunday.

In the clip, the man is seen being stopped by a military patrol. One recruiter checks the man’s papers, before another approaches and abruptly punches him in the abdomen. The man doubles over in pain and is then pressed against a nearby kiosk by the recruiter.

At no point did the man appear to resist or provoke the officer. Five recruitment officers were present at the scene, while no police were visible in the video. The fate of the man is unclear.

Following the backlash, the Kharkov recruitment center confirmed the incident and launched an investigation, but claimed the altercation “arose due to provocative actions by the civilian.” However, it condemned the actions of the serviceman who assaulted the potential conscript, stressing that “any physical or psychological pressure is unacceptable and prohibited.”

Ukraine announced general mobilization in 2022 after the escalation of the conflict with Russia, barring most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Faced with mounting losses and manpower shortages, Kiev tightened conscription rules last year and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25.

The ongoing draft campaign has been marred by recurring violence, with reluctant recruits often seeking to evade or resist military personnel attempting to detain them in public spaces.

https://www.rt.com/russia/617428-ukraine-recruiter-beating-civilian/

Episcopal Church Announces It Violates the Doctrine of their Faith to Help White Refugees

May 12, 2025 |

When I first read the headlines on social media claiming the Episcopal Church had announced it was against the doctrine of their faith to help white refugees, I will admit I thought the headlines were clickbait and over blown. However, then I went to read the actual announcement and press release from the Church…. It’s true.

The Episcopal Church has announced, publicly, they were contacted by the federal government as part of an ongoing contract for refugee resettlement, to assist in the transition of white Afrikaner farmers who are fleeing racial violence and given refugee status by the Trump administration.

Specifically, because of the color of their skin, the Episcopal Church is now saying, “in light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice … we are not able to take this step.”

The Church notes their business model using refugee settlement payments from the United States Government has been disrupted by theTrump administration’s pause on funding, and as a result of their no longer getting paid– in combination with the racial profile of the refugees they are now being asked to assist, they will shut down all refugee settlement efforts. It is a stunning statement:

The Episcopal Church – […] “Since January, the previously bipartisan U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in which we participate has essentially shut down. Virtually no new refugees have arrived, hundreds of staff in resettlement agencies around the country have been laid off, and funding for resettling refugees who have already arrived has been uncertain. Then, just over two weeks ago, the federal government informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees.

In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step.Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.” ~ Rev. Sean W. Rowe, Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church

Obviously, if we drop all pretending, the decision of the Church is based on their superseding doctrine of money, which, in this clear example, outweighs their doctrine of faith.

If there was ever a racial discrimination lawsuit teed up for the Dept of Justice Civil Rights Division, it would be this one. The Episcopal Church receives government funds for refugee settlement. The Episcopal Church is admitting the color of the refugee skin is a determining factor in their decision-making of who to assist. There is not a clearer example of self-admitted discrimination than this one.

Unfortunately, the DOJ Civil Rights Division is now headed by Deputy AG Harmeet Dhillon, I strongly doubt she will take any action.

CTH has long outlined the “faith-based” motives behind the business end of illegal immigration and refugee settlement. {GO DEEP} Factually, there are many national religious organizations who operate the business of “human trafficking” under the guise of immigration settlement services. {GO DEEP #2} It is an unfortunate reality of the corrupt world we live in.

However, that said, I have not before witnessed a well-known religious denomination so openly proclaim their need to retain racism as a critical variable within their business model.

Perhaps the congregation size within the Episcopalian faith might suffer as a consequence of these admissions.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/05/12/episcopal-church-announces-it-violates-the-doctrine-of-their-faith-to-help-white-refugees/

They are not a church, they’ve been a moneymaker endeavor for years and years. Episcopal don’t have deep faith anyway. I attended one mass, a friends family member doing something, it was not all inspiring, very dry.

gorklon rust

@elonmusk

We’re doing a quiet trial to make sure the system works properly.Once it is fully tested, it will be rolled out to the public with an announcement by the President. (What system?)

10:54 AM · May 11, 2025

·

188K

Views

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1921579720707051648

>>23026314

It's like Elon is doing Truths like Trump with mystery. KEK

Economy

Tariff receipts topped $16 billion in April, a record that helped cut the budget deficit

Published Mon, May 12 2025 3:07 PM EDT

Jeff Cox@jeff.cox.7528@JeffCoxCNBCcom

Key Points

• Customs duties totaled $16.3 billion for the month, some 86% above the $8.75 billion collected during March and more than double the $7.1 billion a year ago.

• The fiscal year-to-date deficit fell to $1.05 trillion, which is still 13% higher than a year ago.

Receipts from U.S. tariffs hit a record level in April as revenue from President Donald Trump’s trade war started kicking in.

Customs duties totaled $16.3 billion for the month,some 86% above the $8.75 billion collected during March and more than double the $7.1 billion a year ago, the Treasury Department reported Monday.

That brought the year-to-date total for the duties up to $63.3 billion and more than 18% aheadof the same period in 2024. Trump instituted 10% across-the-board tariffs on U.S. imports starting April 2, which came on top of other select duties he had leveled previously.

While the U.S. is still running a massive budget deficit, the influx in tariffs helped shave some of the imbalance for April, a month in which the Treasury generally runs a surplus because of the income tax filing deadline hitting mid-month.

The surplus totaled $258.4 billion for the month, up 23% from the same period a year ago. That cut the fiscal year-to-date total to $1.05 trillion, which is still 13% higher than a year ago.

Also on an annual basis, receipts rose 10% in April from 2024, while outlays declined 4%. Year to date, receipts are up 5%, while expenditures have risen 9%.

High interest rates are still posing a budgetary burden. Net interest on the $36.2 trillion national debt totaled $89 billion in April, higher than every other category except Social Security. For the fiscal year, net interest has run to $579 billion, also second highest of any outlay.

(I’m really surprised CNBC reported this so politely)

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/tariff-receipts-topped-16-billion-in-april-a-record-that-helped-cut-the-budget-deficit.html

Spit Science: Why Saliva Is A Great Way To Detect Disease

By The Conversation May 12, 2025

Research led by Genecy Calado de Melo and Cathy E. Richards, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

A few drops of saliva can now reveal what used to require a scalpel, a syringe or a scan. Scientists have developed ways to analyze spit for the tiniest traces of illness – from mouth cancer to diabetes, and even brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Unlike blood tests or biopsies, saliva is easy to collect, painless and inexpensive. During the COVID pandemic, some countries used saliva-based testing for rapid screening.

This isn’t entirely new. Scientists first noticed the diagnostic potential of spit decades ago. In the 1980s, researchers used saliva to detect hormones and drug use. By the 1990s, it was being explored as a way to detect HIV.

What’s new is the speed and precision.Today’s techniques can detect subtle molecular shifts that would have been impossible to measure just a few years ago.

Saliva holds a surprising amount of information. It’s full of tiny fragments of DNA, RNA, proteins and fats – many of which change when disease takes hold. Researchers have already shown that saliva can be used to detect changes linked to diabetes, Parkinson’s, heart disease and some cancers.

A recent study even showed saliva could help distinguish between healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment, a possible early sign of Alzheimer’s.

In dentistry, spit science is being studied for early signs of gum disease and even the risk of tooth decay.

A light-based technique called Raman spectroscopy is one of the latest tools being used to scan saliva for hidden chemical changes. It works by bouncing harmless light off molecules in a spit sample and reading the pattern it sends back – a kind of fingerprint for what’s happening inside your body.

It sounds like science fiction, but the technology is already being used in labs to detect early signs of cancer and other diseases often before symptoms appear.

This could be a gamechanger for oral cancer, which often starts with small, painless changes inside the mouth that are easy to miss. Early detection is vital, but many people don’t realize they have a problem until it’s much harder to treat.

A simple spit test during a regular dental check-up could help find cancer early, before it spreads.

It’s not just about cancer, either.Saliva is being trialed as a tool to monitor everything from stress levels to infections. Saliva tests could monitor stress levels.

Simplicity

What makes saliva so appealing is its simplicity – no needles, no specialist clinics. Samples can often be collected at home, posted to a lab and analysed within hours. This could make a huge difference in places with limited access to healthcare or for people who avoid doctors out of fear, cost or time.

Of course, not every disease leaves a clear marker in spit and researchers are still working out which conditions saliva can reliably detect. But the idea of using what’s already naturally produced by the body to give an early warning is a powerful one. It could help catch disease when it’s most treatable, save lives and make healthcare faster, cheaper and more comfortable for everyone.

There’s still work to be done before spit tests become part of routine check-ups. Larger clinical trials are needed and researchers are still fine tuning the best ways to analyse and interpret the data. But the direction of travel is clear: the days of saliva being seen as just drool are over.

Saliva may not seem glamorous, but thanks to the rise of spit science, it’s fast becoming one of the most promising tools in the fight against disease. A future where your dentist, doctor, or even you could spot health problems early with nothing more than simple spit.

https://studyfinds.org/spit-science-why-saliva-great-way-to-detect-disease/