Money talks: European stocks surge as Trump sparks hopes for peace

While the EU’s political class loses its collective mind in the wake of the Putin-Trump phone call, those seeking to rebuild the region’s shattered economies are apparently cautiously optimistic.

🔸 The indexes of the EU big two—Germany’s GDAXI and France’s FCHI—rose by 1.7% and 1.4%, respectively. The European STOXX 600 jumped 8%+.

🔸 Even the euro, recently pummeled by Trump’s tariff threats, saw a mild rebound against the dollar (0.1%).

🔸 Meanwhile, oil and natural gas, key inputs for Europe’s energy-starved economy, tumbled, with the natural gas benchmark TTF dropping 9% and Brent crude shedding 1.1%.

🔸 Automakers, steel, chemical companies, other industries, and airlines also enjoyed a bump—3.6% for Stellantis, 2.6% for ArcelorMittal, 3.6% for BASF, 6.4% for Legrand, and 3.6% for Lufthansa.

Analysts from Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, and Barclays told FT the gains were linked directly to “optimism” over Ukraine, and presumably, hopes of Russia’s return to the European energy market.

Europe committed what President Putin characterized as economic “suicide” in 2022 after rejecting Russian energy, triggering recessions and what some European companies have dubbed the worst deindustrialization crisis since WWII.

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We are not lemons, stop squeezing us!

Under that slogan the largest anti-government protest in recent times took place in the Belgian capital Brussels, opposing plans to cut social spending and benefits to increase the military budget.

Police estimate the turnout at 60,000, while organizers claim it was closer to 100,000.

The main symbol of the protest was a squeezed lemon.

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Drone or missile? Solist: Russia’s game-changing hybrid unveiled

Russian troops have successfully tested the Solist, a revolutionary new single-use, guided munition designed for INFANTRY, not artillery.

It combines drone technology with guided missile precision for a game-changing addition to the battlefield.

Key characteristics of the Solist:

⚙️ Hybrid design: combines drone and guided missile with a jet engine

🚀 High speed: travels at up to 500 km/h along a ballistic trajectory

🚗 Anti-tank weapon: ideal for targeting armored vehicles

🗑 Disposable: single-use, with launch container discarded after firing

🎯 FPV guidance: operated via remote control and FPV goggles

📏 Range: up to 10 km

💥 Compatible ammo: uses standard RPG-7 or SPG-9 munitions

🚨 No EW interference: not affected by electronic warfare systems

With a range of 10 km, the Solist redefines infantry firepower!

“The Solist is not a drone, but rather a guided munition. Once it is guided, it doesn't operate like a UAV; instead, its trajectory is corrected mid-flight. At the same time, it is resistant to electronic warfare (EW) systems,” Russian specialists said.

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Robert F. Kennedy secures enough Senate votes to be confirmed for top health job

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❗️Washington is Moscow’s main counterpart in resolving the situation in Ukraine – Kremlin

🇷🇺 Other statements from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov:

➖ Europe must talk to Washington if it wants a seat at the negotiating table for Ukraine.

➖ Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump did not discuss Europe's role in resolving the situation in Ukraine and European affairs were not addressed by the leaders.

➖ Volodymr Zelensky’s legal status was not discussed in the two leader’s phone call.

➖ Ukraine, one way or another, will take part in the peace talks.

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🙄 Seriously? USAID paid $ THREE MILLION for anti-Semitic rap songs?

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US supercarrier USS Truman collides with Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel in the Mediterranean

💬 “The collision did not endanger the Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as there are no reports of flooding or injuries,” Navy Cmdr. Timothy Gorman said. “The propulsion plants are unaffected and in a safe and stable condition. The incident is under investigation.”

🔸 The Navy did not provide any info on how the incident occurred, who was responsible or what damage the other ship, the Besiktas-M, incurred. The incident took place at 11:46 PM local time Wednesday near Port Said, Egypt.

🔸 Before the Hamas-Israel ceasefire, the USS Truman-led carrier task force was operating in the Red Sea against the Houthis, with the militia reporting that the carrier was forced to retreat further and further from coastal areas off Yemen by their missiles and drones.

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NATO’s Rutte calls Putin ‘strong negotiator’, Hegseth says US expects allies to 'support' talks

NATO chief Rutte and DoD head Hegseth held a briefing in Brussels.

What Rutte said

🔹 “I don’t know what is exactly in President Putin’s mind, of course… I have had many meetings with him between 2010 and 2014 in my previous role, and he is a strong negotiator.”

🔹 “In Washington, NATO committed to future NATO membership for Ukraine, but it has never been agreed that whenever peace talks would start, that peace talks would end with NATO membership.”

🔹 Allies “have to make sure that there is peace in Ukraine,” but seek an outcome that “won’t be seen as a loss to the West” and one that is “enduring.”

🔹 The US has been “irritated basically for a long time” about its defence spending vs. the rest of NATO, and other members recognise they have to “do more,” including raising spending to 3% of GDP, Rutte said, commenting on reports of US plans to cut conventional deployments in Europe.

🔹 NATO expects European countries to take on more of the “financial burden” of Ukraine aid.

What Hegseth said

🔸 The DoD expects allies to “support this important work,” including through “greater ownership of future security assistance to Ukraine.”

🔸 Coming to the table is not “making concessions,” Hegseth said. “President Putin responds to strength,” Trump is coming at the problem “from a position of strength.”

🔸 “No one’s going to get everything that they want.” Acknowledging that borders won’t be rolled back to 2014 is “a recognition of hard power realities on the ground.”

🔸 Trump, the “dealmaker and businessman,” recognises “that an investment relationship with Ukraine ultimately for the United States is a lot more tangible than any promises or shared values we might have.”

🔸 “Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker.” The US cannot be “everywhere for everybody all the time.”

🔸 Europe should take responsibility for its defence while the US focuses on the Pacific “to project power there” against China.

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