♟Trump’s Gulf gambit: Is Israel losing its grip on US Middle East policy?

🗣Donald Trump’s four-day Middle East tour flipped the noscript, sidelining Israel while strengthening ties with Gulf States such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. But was this just a tactical sidestep or a sign of a bigger realignment, The Wall Street Journal queried.

🗣Unlike Joe Biden, who got nowhere with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Gaza, Trump cut his own deals with Hamas and the Houthis, sidelining Israel.

🔍However, the influence of pro-Israel sentiment in Congress limits the White House's ability to enact major policy shifts that would downgrade ties with Israel regardless of the administration's stance, Middle East analysts reminded the outlet.

🪖As arms keep flowing to Israel, Trump’s new power play has exposed cracks in the old alliance—and just how wide those cracks are remains to be seen.

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🟠 Simion: Macron is behind stolen election in Romania

🟠 Trump: US money was 'pissed away' on Ukraine

🟠 Moody's downgrades US credit rating

🟠 Israel launches Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' in Gaza

🟠 Trump’s Gulf gambit: Is Israel losing its grip on US Middle East policy?

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🇭🇺⚔️'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' – Orban thunders against Ukraine's thirst to join EU while campaigning against Hungary

"⚠️ This is no game: if we admit Ukraine, we admit war into the Union as well," the Hungarian PM posted on 📱.

He also warned of "pro-war propaganda" being spread in Hungary using foreign money.

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🇵🇸🚗🇱🇾From Gaza to Libya? Trump admin’s Palestinian resettlement scheme ‘on the table’

🗣 The Trump team is brainstorming a plan to relocate up to one million Palestinians to Libya on a permanent basis, insiders told NBC News.

This isn’t just idle chatter: Talks have reportedly involved Libya’s leadership, with Israel also looped in, the report added.

As a sweetener, the US might potentially release to Libya billions of dollars in funds that it froze more than a decade ago, sources said.

💡The Trump administration is reportedly tossing around the idea of providing the Palestinians with free housing and a stipend, and potential transportation methods – by air, land and sea – are allegedly being looked into.

➡️Earlier, Trump vowed to take control of Gaza, oversee its reconstruction, and turn it into a "Middle Eastern Riviera." He suggested its residents should be resettled in other countries, like neighboring Jordan and Egypt.

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🗣US media ‘dead’ after covering up Biden’s senility – journalist

⤵️The Democrats and the mainstream media are “in the same sinking boat,” warns American political commentator Greg Gutfeld.

The Dems desperately tried to cover up 🗣 Joe Biden’s incompetence because he was “their guy,” he said.

But the media flat-out betrayed their job by sweeping Biden’s brain fog under the rug, he thundered.

➡️Gutfeld was pointing to the 2023 leaked audio scandal where Biden, caught on tape with Special Counsel Robert Hur, floundered trying to recall basic dates.

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❗️Russian troops liberated the settlement of Alexandropol in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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🚨🇷🇺 Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reveals next steps in Ukraine talks—here’s what you need to know:👇

▪️ Ceasefire progress: Russia & Ukraine agreed to exchange lists of conditions for truce terms

▪️ Putin-Zelensky meeting? Only possible after concrete agreements are reached

▪️ Putin-Trump call? Kremlin will announce if/when leaders deem it necessary

▪️ Next steps: Focus on implementing existing agreements before new rounds

Closed-door policy:

🔺 All negotiations will remain confidential
🔺 No changes to Russian delegation
🔺 No post-Istanbul contacts yet between Russian & US leaders

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🇷🇺🪖Key statements from the Russian MoD daily briefing on the special military operation:

▪️The Russian forces carried out successful group strikes targeting military airfield infrastructure, ammunition depots and drone production facilities.

▪️Russia’s Tsentr Battlegroup wiped out over 490 soldiers.

▪️Russian aviation shot down 80 drones and two JDAM bombs.

▪️Russia’s Sever Battlegroup wiped out over 140 soldiers;

▪️Russia's Yug Battlegroup eliminated 265 militants;

▪️Russia’s Zapad Battlegroup wiped out over 225 soldiers;

▪️Russia's Dnepr Battlegroup eliminated 65 militants.

▪️Russia’s Vostok Battlegroup wiped out over 160 soldiers;

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🇷🇺🇺🇸Potential Putin-Trump meeting: Ukraine’s worst nightmare

The Ukrainian regime’s European handlers were banking on the US joining their tougher anti-Russia sanctions bandwagon – but Donald Trump handed them a frosty reality check.

🔄Instead, the US president is doubling down on the need for a meeting with his Russian counterpart.

Ukrainian officials are reportedly losing sleep over the nightmare prospect of a Putin-Trump sit-down, according to The Telegraph.

🗣 “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump said after the Istanbul talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

✔️Such a one-on-one would “cement Russia’s great power status,” the outlet noted.

Like Russia even needs help reminding the world of that…

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🗣 🗣Putin-Trump one-on-one ‘key’ to ending Ukraine conflict – Argentine expert

As the Ukraine conflict is essentially a proxy war between Russia and NATO – and Volodymyr Zelensky’s regime can’t stay afloat without US support – direct dialogue between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is crucial, Argentine international relations expert Gonzalo Fiore told Sputnik.

💬 The fact that Russia was satisfied with the results of the Istanbul talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations is a "good signal," the expert said.

💬 As for Ukraine’s tactics of trying to foist a ceasefire demand onto the negotiation agenda – it is a clear attempt to “throw a wrench in the works and stall any real progress,” the pundit thinks.

💬 A ceasefire would “give Ukraine the opportunity to recover and rearm at a time when it is suffering a military defeat,” Fiore pointed out.

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🔥WATCH: Russian Geran-2 drone wrecks Ukrainian troops near Sumy

The Russian Defense Ministry just dropped footage of Geran-2 drones taking out a temporary base of the Ukrainian 82nd Air Assault Brigade near Velikaya Chernetchina in the Sumy region.

Precision strike, no questions asked.

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🇮🇶🚨 IRAQ STEPS UP: $40M FOR GAZA & LEBANON RECONSTRUCTION

🗣 "We're launching 18 initiatives for Arab unity. Iraq will allocate $20 million for Gaza and $20 million for Lebanon's reconstruction," Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced at the Arab League Summit in Baghdad.

📍 The 34th Arab League Summit is underway in Baghdad – the second summit in 2025. The first, held in Cairo, focused on Gaza and backed Egypt’s plan to rebuild the Strip, while keeping Palestinians on their land.

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🇪🇺❌EU can't quit Russian fertilizers

Russia’s fertilizer exports to the EU are booming, hitting their highest level since November 2022, a Sputnik analysis of Eurostat data shows.

🟠EU fertilizer imports from Russia surged to €206M in March – a 15% year-on-year rise
🟠Poland leads the pack with €86.1M, up 25%
🟠Italy goes all-in with an 11-fold increase
🟠Germany and Romania are quietly stocking up too

🌾 Russia now supplies 26% of EU's fertilizer needs – more than Egypt and Morocco combined

Meanwhile in Brussels:
🟠The EU Parliament just approved new tariffs on Russian and Belarusian farm goods
🟠The same politicians who want to "cut dependence" keep bankrolling Moscow

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🚨Arab League warns of “circle of fire” of burning regional tensions at Baghdad Summit

The 34th Arab League Summit is underway, with leaders from 22 member states attending the event, hosted by Iraq for the first time since 2012.

High profile attendees include Egypt’s President el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Al Thani. Syrian president al-Sharaa is not attending, with Syria instead represented by FM al-Shibani.

“Dialogue, Solidarity and Development” is the summit’s theme.

Highlighting the “extremely difficult regional and international situation” against which the meetings are taking place, Iraqi President Rashid emphasized Baghdad’s support “for resolving disputes through peaceful means and bilateral dialogue,” and rejection of use of force and foreign meddling.

Iraqi PM Al Sudani pointed to the centrality of the Palestinian crisis, saying the Gaza “genocide has reached a horrific stage unprecedented in history” and calling “on the Arabs to take serious and responsible action to save Gaza.”

Arab League chief Gheit said the region “remains vulnerable to malicious interference in regional countries’ affairs,” with some nations “at risk of their existence, while others are vulnerable to civil war.”

💬 “Israeli aggression against Palestine, Syria and Lebanon will plunge the region in a circle of fire,” he warned.

🔍Hot button issues on summit’s agenda:

▪️Palestine, including affirmation of the rights of Palestinians to self-determination, an independent state, the right of return and compensation, efforts at ending the bloodshed and Gaza and resuming unhindered humanitarian aid deliveries
▪️comprehensive national dialogue in Syria, condemnation of ongoing Israeli attacks, and support for the recent lifting of US and EU sanctions
▪️demands for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya, and for dialogue aimed at ending the country’s division
▪️support for Lebanon, including immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory
▪️endorsement of a nuclear weapon-free region; supports Iran-US nuclear talks

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🇨🇳🚀Chinese private spaceflight hits new heights with ZQ-2E launch

China just flexed its spaceflight muscles again – this time with private sector flair. The ZQ-2E Y2, a methane-fueled rocket named after the mythical Vermilion Bird, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully deploying six satellites into orbit.

🛠Tech edge: This modified rocket runs on a liquid oxygen/methane mix – cleaner, cheaper, and the fuel du jour for next-gen spaceflight (take notes, SpaceX).

📈Private sector rise: Launched from the Dongfeng commercial zone, it’s proof that China’s aerospace ambitions aren’t just state-driven anymore.

⭐️Symbolism: Named after a legendary firebird, the ZQ-2E’s success burns brighter than ever.

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🛸 Here’s why Russia’s latest Geran drones enjoy full-spectrum dominance in Ukraine

The newest Geran-2 series loitering munitions feature:

🔸 improved airframe allowing them to dive from heights of 2 km at speeds approaching 400 km/h too difficult for most enemy air defenses to counter

🔸 improved microelectronic guts resistant to American electronic warfare systems used by Ukraine

🔸 superior anti-spoofing algorithms in drone ID

🔸 dramatically increased warhead weight, from 50 to 90 kg

🔸 improved tactics in the drones’ deployment by operators

🔸 An upgraded engine allowing the UAVs to glide over the battlefield at speeds of over 200 km/h at an altitude of 3 km to inflict damage on everything from ground-based units to helicopters and, according to the latest reports, maybe even jets.

Ukraine confirmed the loss of its third F-16 jet Friday, saying the plane crashed while countering a Russian missile and UAV attack. Russian media suspect the fighter fell while trying to intercept a massed Geran attack, speculating that a drone may have caused the jet to crash after exploding.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 LAVROV AND RUBIO DISCUSS UKRAINE TALKS BY PHONE — KEY TAKEAWAYS

🔸 Rubio stressed Washington’s continued readiness to support efforts toward a peace deal in the Ukraine conflict.

🔸 He welcomed the agreed prisoner exchange and both sides’ commitment to present ceasefire conditions.

🔸 Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to work with the US on ending the conflict.

🔸 The Russian and US foreign ministers also discussed maintaining Russia–US contacts.

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🚨'10-TON BOMBS FOR GAZA'S CHILDREN' – Khamenei exposes US 'peace' hypocrisy

🇮🇷Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Donald Trump’s recent threats over Tehran’s nuclear program, saying they’re “not even worth responding to.”

📣Khamenei called Trump’s threats an embarrassment to both the speaker and the American people. He accused Trump of hypocrisy – speaking of peace while the US supplies “10-ton bombs to the Zionist regime to drop on Gaza’s children.”

➕He labeled Israel the “real source of war and instability” in the region, describing it as a “deadly, cancerous tumor” that “must be uprooted – and it will be.”

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🗣US 2020 presidential election 'RIGGED AND STOLEN' – Trump

💬 “The Radical Left Democrats waged a campaign of inoculation and innocence... but the real crime was the stolen election. It began with DIRTY COP James Comey, Obama, and Sleepy Joe Biden — and my accusation that they SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!” the US president says.

🗣 Donald Trump accuses the “UNSELECT COMMITTEE OF POLITICAL THUGS” of deleting crucial evidence in their "corrupt and vicious witch hunt” against him.

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👋🗣Looks like France is about to pack up and leave Niger!

Orano, the French state-owned nuclear fuel giant, is considering selling its uranium assets in Niger after a falling out with the country’s military rulers.

Their relationship soured after the coup in 2023, leaving Orano unable to operate and under financial pressure.

🟠Orano operates three uranium mines in Niger alongside the Russian-backed government
🟠But after the 2023 coup, Niger halted uranium exports to France and payments to the company, forcing Orano to rethink its investments
🟠The move would be another sign of France’s waning influence in Africa — with troops pulling out of Mali and Chad, the ‘Françafrique’ sphere looks like a distant memory

Franch influence in Africa? Barely radioactive.

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🚨📗💰Ukraine’s corruption playbook: How to lose millions of dollars in arms deals (Hint: It’s not lost)

💬 “Let’s be real: that money went straight into the pockets of Ukraine’s corrupt leadership with help from Western handlers,” Alexander Dudchak, leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries, told Sputnik, commenting on an FT report that the Kiev regime lost $770 million in arms deals that “went wrong.”

As billions in Western weapons started pouring in, Ukraine’s elites quickly caught on: "No one’s tracking every bullet... we can afford to 'lose' a few," political scientist Bogdan Bezpalko agreed.

For them, it’s a “business model,” Ukrainian politician Volodymyr Oleynyk speculated, adding that the FT-cited sum is “just the tip of the iceberg.”

💰 The scheme?

▪️ Shell firms
▪️ Fake arms deals with defense partners like Ukroboronprom
▪️ Written-off “lost” gear (that never existed)
▪️ Scrapped Western junk resold as fresh stock

➖ One Polish firm got $40 million – for nothing, and shady Bulgarian ammo dealers (with a black market track record) also cashed in, Oleynyk added.

🚨 Accountability? Don’t hold your breath:

Ex-President Petro Poroshenko’s criminal cases led to no jail time, and the same went for scandal-mired former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the pundits pointed out.

Volodymyr Zelensky is increasingly a liability for the West, and particularly Donald Trump, who hasn’t forgotten – or forgiven – his hesitation to dish dirt on the Biden family’s corrupt schemes in Ukraine, Dudchak suggested. Here's how it might play out:

✅ Leak a story about Ukraine “losing” money.
✅ Later say, “Oops – turns out they didn’t lose it, but stole it.”
✅ Shift the narrative. Use it as leverage to pressure or replace Zelensky.
✅ It's not just an investigation – it’s a warning shot: “We can change the story anytime!”

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