King Charles III’s state visit to U.S. to proceed as planned following WHCD shooting
Fox News correspondent Stephanie Bennett reports King Charles III’s state visit to the U.S. will proceed as planned despite heightened security concerns following the shooting at the White House Correspondents
2:13
https://youtu.be/nV3XO8JuJMs
Iranian foreign minister arrives in Russia for talks with Putin
Abbas Araghchi’s visit marks the final stop of his regional tour as talks with the US have stalled
Published 27 Apr, 2026 11:30 |
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin, amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the US‑Israeli war on Iran.
The top diplomat landed in St. Petersburg early Monday and is scheduled to meet with the Russian leader and other senior officials, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed, noting that “the importance of this conversation is difficult to overestimate in terms of how the situation around Iran and in the Middle East is developing.”
The trip marks the final leg of Araghchi’s regional tour of Pakistan, Oman, and Russia, which he has described as an effort to “closely coordinate” with partners amid the standoff with Washington and West Jerusalem.
Direct US‑Iran negotiations have stalled after President Donald Trump called off a planned trip by his envoys to Islamabad over the weekend, saying the Iranians “can call” if they want to talk.
Tehran, meanwhile, has insisted that direct talks with the US are pointless as long as Washington maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports and Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue.
Russia has positioned itself as a key diplomatic partner for Tehran throughout the conflict. Araghchi’s meeting with Putin is expected to focus on the latest ceasefire developments and forming a joint approach to the crisis.
https://www.rt.com/russia/639149-iran-minister-putin-meeting/
(Lavrov is for the first time, not making any sense for perhaps the first time)
Germany signed 47k military procurement contracts since 2022 – Spiegel
The Defense Ministry couldn’t say how many of the deals have been implemented, according to the outlet
Published 26 Apr, 2026 20:55
Germany has signed €111 billion ($130 billion) worth of weapons contracts since 2022. However, theDefense Ministry cannot say how many have actually been delivered or put into service=, Der Spiegel reports.
In February 2022, then Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to theescalation of the Ukraine conflict by declaring a ‘Zeitenwende’ (turning point) and unveiling a €100 billion plan to modernize the German armed forces by 2028. Berlin has also been a key backer of Kiev, providing the government of Vladimir Zelensky with €44 billion ($52 billion) in military and financial aid during the conflict with Russia. (It’s pretty easy to see Merz is trying to combine his Nazi plans combined with the neo Nazis in Ukraine and ultimately rule of as he calls it, protects the EU)
Der Spiegel reported on Sunday, citing Defense Ministry data,that 47,000 procurement contracts have been signed since Scholz’s declaration. The figure was released in response to an inquiry by a politician from The Left party, Dietmar Bartsch, it added.
The ministry declined to say how many of the contracts had been completed or how much of the equipment had been delivered as of March 1, 2026, the outlet said.
“An automated, centralized evaluation of all procurement projects in line with the request is not possible,” it said in response.
Collecting this data manually would be too costly and time-consuming, which “could lead to delays in defense-related projects,”the ministry claimed.
Bartsch criticized the response, saying “more than 47,000 arms contracts in four years, worth around €111 billion – that’s over 30 contracts per day.”
The fact that the Defense Ministry didn’t release the figures on its own and that it “can’t even quantify how many projects have actually been completed and put into service is a warning sign,” he argued.
The lack of oversight increases the risk that billions in taxpayer money or loans could be wasted on delayed or unsuitable projects, Bartsch said.
Germany has been investing heavily in its military despite the country’s economy continuing to deteriorate. Earlier this week, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche cut the previous growth forecast for this year in half, saying that GDP is expected to rise just 0.5%.
Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned about the “danger of EU militarization,” which is happening “very fast and frenetically.” (That’s because we will never be dragged into a world war again, and Europe may start a new one.)
“The Americans are actively promoting those processes” in orderto absolve themselves of the responsibility for the security on the continentand make Europeans bankroll the Ukraine conflict on their own, Lavrov said. (This makes no sense. Merz planned his NAZI army along time ago. And why on earth are we responsible for the security of the EU, when they don’t protect themselves?)
(Lavrov the US it’s not responsible for a European war monetarily, you are just pissed because Trump won’t be dragged into the EU corruption and the Ukraine neo Nazis that are fully backed by all EU countries. Also Lavrov we the US, will not fund any more wars. The only reason you want Trump involved is to solve an unsolvable mess, made by the EU. PS the EU and Ukraine will not listen to the US. Lavrov you miss a lot, the point of Trump bowing out, it’s not our problem for the EU and Ukraine idiot war, and you know this, Ukraine will not stop this war, Trump tried, and Russia tried. Lavrov, the US has paid 70-80% of NATO fees since the late 50s and we are still giving the majority. Lavrov why do you think the US should be a protector of Ukraine, they are not in NATO? and why does the US have to contribute anything to the EU or Ukraine stupid wars.)
Moscow has dismissed Western claims that it harbors aggressive intentions against Europe, arguing that EU countries are using the perceived ‘Russian threat’ to justify rapidly increasing military spending while shifting attention away from domestic problems.
(https://www.rt.com/news/639130-germany-defense-contracts-ukraine/
(Merz is building the Nazi army, which he calls the EU military. Merz’s father was a high up leader in Hitler’s army. Merz plans on taking over Europe in time, like Hitler and his army. Merz has cut off many benefits and told the people we don’t have the money)
European ‘propaganda’ using Russia as ‘external enemy’ to mask crises – Kremlin
The EU portrays Moscow as a “model external enemy,”but the continent’s security architecture is “unthinkable” without Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov says
Published 26 Apr, 2026 16:15
Russia has conveniently been turned into a “model external enemy” by European propaganda seeking to justify the continent’s internal problems, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, arguing that such efforts are unlikely to succeed.
European officials have frequently blamed Moscow for a range of challenges, especially since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Meanwhile, many inthe EU have pushed for increased militarization over what they describe as a “Russian threat,” including claims that Moscow could attack the EU after the conflict ends.Russia has repeatedly dismissed such claims as “nonsense.”
In an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin for the news agency Vesti released on Sunday, Peskov saidEurope is facing a slew of deepening crises: “These are economic crises, existential crises, a security crisis, and,most importantly, a crisis in understanding itself and its core values.”
European propaganda has been trying to cast Russia as a convenient “model external enemy”simply because it is “a large and powerful country.”
“Will this lead to anything good? Will they be able to shift the blame for everything on us? Unlikely, of course,” he said.
Peskovalso stressed that Russia is part of Europe, and that the continent’s security architecture is “unthinkable” without its participationand without taking its interests into account.
“Unfortunately, the current generation of European politiciansis choosing a line of total Russophobia as its primary focus,” he said. “Declaring Russia the main threat to Europe’s existence is unwise. It’s a mistake…“Russia cannot be the main threat to Europe,” because as an Eurasian country it is an integral part of Europe, the spokesman said.
On Ukraine, Peskov said Moscow hasrepeatedly urged Kiev “to muster the will” and make the decisions needed to reach an agreement, but so far without success. He warned that delaying them will only make it worse: “Even more painful decisions will have to be made further on.”
Russia and Ukraine have held several rounds of direct talks, as well as trilateral meetings involving the US over the past year,but the peace process has stalled due to Washington’s war on Iran. (What??that’s a weird statement, Ukraine has rejected every negotiation)
Reports indicate that territorial disputes remain the main obstacle. Kiev has rejected concessions, while Moscow insists any settlement must include recognition of former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia, as well as address NATO expansion and Ukraine’s alignment with the West.
Earlier this month, VladimirZelensky called on European backers to form a new military bloc involving the EU, UK, Ukraine, Türkiye, and Norway to deter Russia, claiming that such a force could surpass Russia in military strength. Commenting on the remarks, Russian Foreign Minister SergeyLavrov ridiculed Zelensky’s apparent attempt to portray himself as Europe’s “defender” and the leader of a new military alliance, warning it “won’t end well”and criticizing calls for Ukraine’s rapid EU accession under what he describedas “an openly Nazi regime.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/639119-kremlin-european-propaganda-ukraine/
(Only a Nazi like Merz can tell that to Zelensky, the neo Nazi)
No fast-track EU membership for Ukraine – Merz
Kiev has repeatedly demanded a set date for its accession
Published 25 Apr, 2026 12:37 |
German Chancellor Friedrich Merzhas ruled out Ukraine’s immediate accession to the European Union, instead calling for aphased approachto integration, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on Friday.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg cited an unnamed EU official as sayingthat leaders had signaled preliminary conditions are in place for Ukraine to begin the first stageof the membership process, with talks potentially starting in the coming weeks or months.
“It is clear to everyone that an immediate accession of Ukraine to the EU is, of course, not possible,” Merz said as cited by the news agency after an EU summit in Cyprus. “I also want to enable closer integration into the European institutions, for example through participation in European councils without voting rights.”
The comment comes as European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a joint statement,called for immediate “opening of negotiation clusters”on Ukraine’s EU membership.
At the same time, Ukraine’s VladimirZelensky rejected any lesser form of membership, insisting on full accessionand sayinghis country is “defending common European values.” He has repeatedly urged Brussels toset a concrete date, arguing it should come no later than 2027.
Merz already characterizedZelensky’s goal of membership by 2027 as “not possible”earlier this year, saying that Ukraine needs first to stabilize its institutions and economyand root out corruption.
Von der Leyen, who granted Ukraine candidate status within weeks of its 2022 application, has previously rejected the idea of setting a firm date,telling Zelensky in February: “From our side, dates by themselves are not possible.”
Thecountry’s accession has been consistently opposed by Slovakia and by Hungaryunder the outgoing government of Viktor Orban. They argue thatUkrainian membership could draw the EU into an open conflict with Russiaand undermine the bloc’s economy.
Moscow says it does not oppose Ukraine joining the organization, but has criticized what Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovcalled its transformation into an “aggressive military-political bloc” and an “appendage of NATO.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also warned thatUkraine’s accession could undermine the EU and even lead to its collapse.
https://www.rt.com/russia/639047-ukraine-eu-accession-not-possible/
(I knew in 2022 the EUs promises would never come through. But Z has a lot of dirt on all of them. This is going to be fun to watch.)
No ban needed: Russian athletes get shut out by suspiciously convenient delays
They met every requirement, but delays, opacity and ‘missed’ options shut Russian junior gymnasts out before they could compete
Published 27 Apr, 2026 09:42
By Nadezhda Romanenko, political
The Russian junior group in rhythmic gymnastics will not be able to take part in the 2026 European Cup. The reason is unrelated to sporting results, injuries, or any decision by the athletes to withdraw.
Participation became impossible because of prolonged administrative procedures connected with obtaining neutral status, followed by a refusal of registration by European Gymnastics. Young athletes who followed every rule were left out because of bureaucratic hurdles put up by different organizations that failed to coordinate.
The Russian Gymnastics Federation submitted documents for neutral status starting March 25, with additional names added through early April. They didn’t sit back and wait for a reply either – they sent repeated requests asking World Gymnastics to speed things up, including direct outreach to its president. Still, approvals came in pieces. Some athletes received clearance on April 14, others not until April 22. Only on April 23 were they finally added to the anti-doping testing pool, which is required to compete.
By then, it was already too late – registration deadlines for the European Cup had passed, and the draw had taken place on April 11. Once that happened, European Gymnastics said it could not add the Russian group.
No one involved can seriously claim this was about sporting merit. The athletes weren’t injured, they didn’t withdraw, and they weren’t disqualified.They were simply stuck waiting for one body to finish its procedures while another stuck to its deadlines. That gap shut them out.
What makes it worse is thatthere was, apparently, a workaround. European Gymnastics later said athletes in this kind of situation can be entered in the system with a ‘pending’ status before final approval. That option might have kept the door open, but the Russian federation only learned about it after the draw. By then, it was useless.
It’s hard to treat that as a minor oversight. If a key procedural option exists but isn’t communicated in time, then a process that is supposed to be neutral becomes baselessly opaque. And when that opacity determines who gets to compete, it stops being a technical detail.
All of this sits awkwardly next to the IOC’s position from December 2025, when the organization stated that young athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports should no longer face restrictions in access to international competitions. It also said athletes have a fundamental right to compete without political pressure.
And it’s true that the athletes faced no formal ban – because none was needed. Exclusion was achieved through delays, missed windows and disconnected procedures – a confluence of mishaps that looks just a bit too convenient to be a complete coincidence.
Federations control the actual entry points into competitions, and even as the IOC asks for better accessibility, they still have the power to shut out Russian juniors– they just have to drag their feet a bit, forget to mention a crucial workaround, or fail to coordinate at a key juncture.
World Gymnastics closed its office over Easter just as the process was underway. It had been asked to move faster, but decisions came after that Easter break, not before. Nothing suggests those delays were unavoidable. They were predictable, and they had consequences.
Meanwhile, European Gymnastics followed its own schedule. Once the draw was done, that was it – no adjustments, no exceptions. From a procedural standpoint, that may be consistent. From the athletes’ perspective, it meant their fate had been decided before their paperwork was even finished.
Months of preparation, training camps, routines, expectations of an international start – all of it ended because two organizations’ timelines didn’t match. The athletes had no way to influence either side – they met the requirements and submitted all the paperwork.
And now, they are not allowed to compete. The reasons behind it are anything but simple, but they point in the same direction. A system that talks about openness while operating through opaque and fragmented procedures doesn’t just fall short – it blocks the very people it claims to support. And if this is how things continue to work, similar situations will happen again.
https://www.rt.com/news/639145-russian-gymnasts-shut-out/