World, US, Culture, Market, and Sci-Tech News Aggregation from MSM and Independent News
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FRANKFURT, Germany – One of the major reasons for the creation of the European Union was to make Europeans wealthier. Along the way, however, something went seriously wrong.
Europeans are becoming poorer compared to Americans, who are becoming richer.
One in five Germans now faces the risk of imminent poverty in what has long been one of the world’s wealthiest nations.
In France, the poverty rate has hit a 30-year high.
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NORTH Korea has spent three days testing missiles as crazed Kim Jong-un unveils his newest cache of cluster-bomb warheads and blackout bombs.
The deranged dictator was trying out a new cluster-bomb warhead last week, North Korean state media reported.
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The United States military issued a warning Monday that it will be enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports on the Gulf of Oman — east of the Strait of Hormuz — as ceasefire negotiations with Iran broke down over the weekend, U.S. Central Command said in a notice to seafarers.
The notice said the blockade would begin at 10 a.m. eastern, following a proclamation from U.S. President Donald Trump. The Gulf of Oman is a strategic body of water in the Arabian Sea, which lies just east of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has been blocking to most international shipping traffic for weeks.
“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,” the U.S. military notice said.
US stands alone as Iran, China join key UN bodies over objections– www.foxnews.com
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Western democracies, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia, are facing backlash after allowing Iran and other authoritarian regimes to secure seats on influential United Nations (U.N.) bodies, with the United States standing alone in opposition.
The controversy stems from decisions by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that plays a central role in shaping U.N. policy and staffing key committees.
Critics warn the outcome could allow governments accused of human rights abuses to influence global policy and control which civil society groups are granted access to the United Nations.
Conservatives have suffered a ‘breakdown’ after Orbán loss, says Polish MP who was granted asylum in Hungary– rmx.news
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After the landslide victory of opposition leader Péter Magyar, Marcin Romanowski, a Polish Law and Justice (PiS) MP granted political asylum in Hungary by the Fidesz government, says simply voting for change is not always a good thing. The MP also now faces extradition to Poland to face prosecution.
Cuba’s president says ‘we will defend ourselves’ against U.S. invasion – National– globalnews.ca
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Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the island “will defend ourselves” against a U.S. invasion in an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday.
Díaz-Canel, 65, said the U.S. has no valid reason to carry out a military attack against the island or to attempt to depose him.
He said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security, but should it happen, Cubans would defend themselves — even if it meant losing their lives in the process.
Weapons of Mass Automation: AI can make war more lethal than nuclear weapons. How US, Russia, China, India and others are preparing – WION– news.google.com
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Weapons of Mass Automation: AI can make war more lethal than nuclear weapons. How US, Russia, China, India and others are preparing WION
Magyar’s remarks on energy supplies from Russia cause tensions in Kiev — media – World– tass.com
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MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. The stance of Peter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party – victorious in Hungary’s recent elections – regarding oil and gas supplies from Russia is poised to influence Hungary’s relations with Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian media outlet Strana.
The publication suggests that Magyar’s apparent intention to preserve Russian energy imports could be a significant source of tension between the two nations.
Anti-America, Pro-Iran Spanish Prime Minister’s Wife Just Criminally Charged – RedState– redstate.com
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been sticking his thumb in the eye of the United States for years, but now he’s got other things to worry about than whether to continue to tear down the Western alliance at the behest of Islamists. According to reports, Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, has been criminally charged for various corruption-related offenses, including influence peddling and embezzlement.
Spain pushes China to assume global leadership role during Iran war– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday pushed China to embrace a larger role on the world stage as Europe increasingly turns to Beijing amid growing tensions with the United States.
Sanchez’s speech at Beijing’s Tsinghua University follows recent moves from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and others to tighten ties with China after the Trump administration redefined its relationship with Europe, leading many allies to question Washington’s commitment to long-standing alliances.
On the day before he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sanchez pushed back against the notion that Europe holds little value and called on China to help fill what he described as a new power vacuum left by the U.S.
“Europe may seem small on a map. But its weight is decisive, and its unity is a guarantee of stability and prosperity in the world, a world that cannot be understood without China,” Sanchez said. “We are called upon to understand one another and to cooperate.”
“Europe will also have to redouble its efforts, especially now that the United States has decided to withdraw from many of these fronts,” he added.
New bill in Germany could block people with ‘extremist’ views from buying houses– www.lifesitenews.com
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A draft bill by the German government would introduce a law preventing people with “extremist” views from buying a house.
The draft bill from the Ministry of Construction, led by Verena Hubertz from the Social Democrats (SPD), would give municipalities the right of first refusal if a potential buyer of property has “anti-constitutional aspirations.”
German news outlet NIUS reports that individuals whose views are deemed dangerous by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency) can be prevented from purchasing homes.
According to the draft, the building law change is intended to contribute to “strengthening the focus on the common good” and “preventing social ills.” To this end, the government says it aims to prevent the “spatial impact of organized crime as well as right-wing, left-wing, or religiously motivated extremist activities.”
VIDEO: Mystery Weapon Spotted In Hands Of President Trump’s Secret Service Detail– wltreport.com
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This has users on X talking.
President Trump was spotted over the weekend on video at his Doral Golf Club; however, his Secret Service detail has garnered all the attention.
In a video of Trump meeting with a supporter, one of Trump’s Secret Service agents is spotted holding a futuristic weapon.
Take a look:
Wtf is this thing that Trump’s secret service guy is holding? pic.twitter.com/7kp65x0NfI
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) April 13, 2026
Canadian man resisting euthanasia receives sacraments from traditional Catholic priest– www.lifesitenews.com
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A disabled man known for speaking out against Canada’s aggressive euthanasia regime recently received sacraments, including Extreme Unction, from a traditional Catholic priest.
Roger Foley, who suffers from an incurable and degenerative brain disease, told LifeSiteNews that he welcomed the opportunity to have a priest visit after a period of health decline despite the fact that he has long been irreligious.
“It was a very wonderful experience,” Foley said regarding the visit. “I felt honored and humbled, especially with the kindness and knowledge of the priest. I would tell him how confused I am and he would tell me more about the Catholic faith. He answered a lot of my questions.”
Foley admitted that it is difficult for him to have faith, “especially now because of all the bad things that have happened to me,” though he accepts Catholic teaching about the sacraments. His condition makes it difficult for him to move, and he can no longer eat or drink, receiving his nourishment from IV fluids. On top of this he has suffered pain, severe fatigue and cognitive decline, as well as cruel behavior from hospital staff.
Poll Shows Massive Support for Trump’s Goals in Iran, but Concern About How Conflict Is Going – RedState– redstate.com
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As the U.S. blocking of the Strait of Hormuz begins Monday morning, a new CBS -YouGov poll showed Sunday that the American public overwhelmingly backs President Trump’s goals in the Iran conflict and his vow to never let the Islamic Republic obtain nuclear weapons.
Oil Tankers Rush to The US For American Oil As Negotiations Fail to Open the Strait of Hormuz– townhall.com
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As the remnants of the Iranian regime continue to block the Strait of Hormuz, countries around the world are reportedly turning to the United States for oil, as tankers flood the Gulf of America to purchase American oil.
This is the Gulf of America, packed with supertankers racing to load up on US oil.
Record exports.
Global energy demand is shifting directly to 🇺🇸
Economic boom incoming.
Paying attention… pic.twitter.com/yjCwoJI8Wd
— Dan Gambardello (@dangambardello) April 12, 2026
🚨 DONALD TRUMP JUST STUNNED THE WORLD
Suddenly, oil and gas tankers want to RUSH to the US to fill up on energy. Look at the Gulf of America!
It’s almost like 47 had a plan this entire time 🔥
“Boats are sailing up, heading to OUR country, big, beautiful tankers — we’re… pic.twitter.com/xRFt22LuOi
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 12, 2026
🚨 HOLY CRAP! President Trump just stunned everybody, saying the world is USING AMERICA to fill up on oil because of what Iran did to the Strait
“At 10 o’clock tomorrow we have a blockade going into effect…other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and… pic.twitter.com/O7DEvBqPSt
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 13, 2026
Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz that had been repeatedly watered down in hopes those two countries would abstain.
The vote — 11-2, with two abstentions from Pakistan and Colombia— took place just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an unprecedented threat that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not open the strategic waterway and make a deal before his 8 p.m. Eastern deadline. One-fifth of the world’s oil typically passes through the strait, and Iran’s stranglehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring.
The U.K. is “not supporting” the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, insisting that the country would not get “dragged in” to the Iran war.
It came as President Emmanuel Macron confirmed France and the U.K. would, in the coming days, co-host a conference aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ireland police remove farmers, blockades protesting fuel price rises South China Morning Post
from news.google.com
Vessels avoiding damage from the Iran war are turning to a small island nation in Africa Business Insider Africa
from news.google.com
After a 10-day mission that sent them around the far side of the moon, NASA Commander Reid Wiseman says he and his three fellow Artemis II crew members are “bonded forever.”
Wiseman and fellow astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were welcomed home in an emotional and rousing event in Houston, one day after they touched back down on Earth.
“We are bonded forever and no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through and it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life,” said Wiseman.
The mission broke the record for the farthest humans have ever travelled from Earth, and on a personal level, Reid said it was no small feat.
Oil prices may soon be coming down after this move by U.S. Forces.
U.S. CENTCOM on Saturday announced the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy will patrol the Strait of Hormuz to clear it from mines that were placed by the Iranian regime.
The move by U.S. CENTCOM come as JD Vance and top Iranian officials are in Pakistan discussing a peace agreement that would bring an end to U.S. military operations in Iran.
Liberals around Europe are raising their glasses in celebration after seeing the results of the election in Hungary on Sunday.
With nearly 99% of the votes counted, Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party had secured only 55 of the 199 seats in the Hungarian parliament, bringing Orbán’s 16-year stint as prime minister to an end despite an endorsement last week from President Donald Trump.
U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald Trump’s broadside against him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the Trump administration.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told The Associated Press aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”
Democratic House Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday night following sexual assault allegations that he continues to deny.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell said in a social media post.
Democrats quickly abandoned Swalwell, 44, after allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. The allegations were first published Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle, and later by CNN.
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Chinese Workers Protest Unpaid Wages in Russia’s Far East – www.themoscowtimes.com
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Chinese workers building a fuel-making unit at a Rosneft refinery in Far East Russia’s Khabarovsk region took to the streets on Sunday to protest unpaid wages, regional authorities said Monday.
At least 200 employees of the Russian-Chinese contractor Petro-Hehua marched through the city of Komsomolsk-na-Amure demanding back payments and help from both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.
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Russian troops continue special military operation after Easter truce ends — top brass – Russian Politics & Diplomacy – tass.com
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MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Russian troops continued their special military operation in Ukraine after the Orthodox Easter truce ended, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.
“With the end of the truce, the Russian Armed Forces continued the special military operation,” the ministry said in a statement.
All the Russian battlegroups strictly observed the ceasefire and stayed in their previously held positions, the ministry reported.
“In compliance with an order by the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces, all the battlegroups in the special military operation area strictly observed the ceasefire from 4:00 p.m. on April 11 to the end of April 12 and stayed in their previously held positions,” the ministry said.
Pope Leo has responded to President Trump’s attack on him by saying he has “no intention to debate” Mr. Trump on Iran.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump lashed out at the pontiff on social media, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” he added.
Leo had called Mr. Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable” and encouraged people to contact “political leaders … to ask them, tell them to work for peace.”
Polish PM Tusk congratulated Peter Madyar and discussed his planned Warsaw visit mezha.net
from news.google.com