"If Germany's socialist defense minister made anything clear, it's that Vance's criticisms cut deep.
Vice President
JD Vance minced no words in his Friday address at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, putting various European nations on blast for their heavy-handed suppression of political movements and ideas unfavorable to their respective ruling classes; for their dismissal of citizens' concerns and common sense; for their routine attacks on religious liberties; and for their ruinous mass migration policies.
"The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia. It's not China. It's not any other external actor," said Vance. "What I worry about is the threat from within."
Vance's speech clearly struck a chord, prompting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a member of the Social Democratic Party, to spend some of his time onstage refuting the suggestion that democracy and free speech are on the decline in his and other European nations.
"I had a speech I prepared today," said the German socialist. "It was supposed to be about security in Europe. But I cannot start in the way I originally intended."
"This democracy was called into question by the U.S. vice president," continued Pistorius. "He speaks of the annulment of democracy, and, if I understood him correctly, he compares the condition of Europe with the condition that prevails in some authoritarian regimes. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not acceptable."Pistorius staked his claim on shaky ground.
Alternative for Germany is a right-leaning populist party founded in 2013 by free-market economists keen to strengthen German sovereignty and enraged by the European Union's bailout of Greece and other debtor nations. It has since also taken aim at mass migration, open borders, climate alarmism, Islamization, and gender ideology.
While Pistorius suggested that democracy is strong in Germany and the country's political establishment protects the rights of those who disagree with it, German authorities have worked feverishly to ban, vilify, disarm, de-bank, and criminalize the party. In certain German states, such as Saxony and Thuringia, the AFD has been classified as a "right-wing extremist" group.
Marie-Thérèse Kaiser, a member of the popular Alternative for Germany party, was convicted of a "hate crime" in May for sharing statistics about the disproportionate number of gang rapes committed by immigrants.
Evidently panicked over the alliance of the AFD and the Christian Democratic Union party on immigration, 124 parliamentarians introduced a motion urging an investigation into whether the platforming of certain voices in the German democracy is unconstitutional." Blaze
"An American citizen held hostage by Hamas for approximately 15 months has released a video detailing his experiences while imprisoned, in which he thanks President Donald Trump for his role in securing his release.
Keith Siegel, a dual-national of the U.S. and Israel, was released by the terrorist group approximately two weeks ago after being held by Hamas for 484 days under "unimaginable conditions." WashingtonExanminer
"Ukraine has handed a revised draft minerals accord back to the US as it seeks to stop Donald Trump cutting off military aid for its fight against Russia. The Ukrainian side returned its “vision” to the US weeks after Mr. Trump demanded $500 billion in rare earth minerals from Kyiv to compensate for the hundreds of billions of dollars the superpower has given Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression." MS
"At least a dozen private Chinese companies are actively cooperating with businesses in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, providing them with either equipment or other products. NV reached this conclusion after analyzing open sources, including publications from Russian media and reports from occupation “administrations,” as well as speaking with domestic experts who monitor developments in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine." msn
"Donald Trump announced that the United States will significantly increase military equipment sales to India and pave the way for a contract regarding F-35 fighter jets for the country. India is the largest arms importer in the world, which for years has relied on Russia for its armaments and was recently considered a potential buyer of Su-57 fighters." MS
"Santorini's earthquakes are intensifying as a rare earthquake swarm continues to rattle the Mediterranean's Aegean Sea. The earthquakes are probably caused by faults rather than volcanic activity. Greek authorities have closed schools and deployed emergency crews as a swarm of earthquakes intensifies near the volcanic island of Santorini." LiveScience
"A 5.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded in West Texas late Friday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and could be felt by residents more than 150 miles away in El Paso. The earthquake struck near the border of Culberson and Reeves counties at 11:23 p.m. CST with an epicenter about 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas. Three smaller aftershocks also occurred within minutes of the first quake. The earthquake was also felt by Texans as far west as El Paso and in some cities in eastern New Mexico." TexasTribune
"Europe needs to form a united military front against Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned.
His urgent call comes after several European and US leaders met in Munich on Friday for a security conference to address the Russia-Ukraine war, which has entered its third year.
Zelensky said US Vice President JD Vance made clear that Ukraine will get less support from its greatest ally moving forward after spending more $183 billion on aid in the war, according to Congress's Ukraine Oversight Committee." DailyExpress
"Since the beginning of the day, there have been 176 clashes between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops.
In the Kupiansk sector, the Russian invaders attacked the Ukrainian positions 35 times near Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kolisnykivka, Lozova and in the direction of Novoosynove. As many 23 combat engagements are currently ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, the Russian army carried out 19 attacks on Ukrainian positions near the localities of Zelenyi Hai, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Kolodiazi, Yampolivka, Terny, Torske and Dibrova, with nine combat engagements still ongoing.
In the Siversk sector, the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled three enemy attacks, with six combat clashes currently underway. The invaders are attempting to advance in the areas of Verkhniokamianske and Ivano-Dariivka.In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled ten Russian attacks. The enemy is attempting to break through to Predtechyne, Stupochky, Bila Hora, and the area of Chasiv Yar. Seventeen combat engagements have been completed thus far.
In the Toretsk sector, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled eight enemy assaults in the areas of Toretsk, Diliivka, and Krymske. Seven battles are currently ongoing.In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces have made 47 attempts to dislodge Ukrainian defenders from their positions in the areas of Zelene Pole, Tarasivka, Vodiane Druhe, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Shevchenko, Pishchane, Kotlyne, Udachne, Nadiivka, Andriivka and Udachne. The defense forces are successfully holding back the enemy's attack and have repelled 24 attacks, with 23 combat engagements currently ongoing.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the enemy attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses nine times in the areas of Zelenivka and Velyka Novosilka. Six combat clashes are ongoing.
In the Huliaipole sector, the Russian army utilized glide bombs in the Zaliznychne, Verkhnia Tersa, and Kopani areas.
In the Kursk sector, there have been 11 combat engagements since the beginning of the day, with four of these engagements ongoing. Additionally, the enemy has carried out eight airstrikes, deploying eight guided bombs, and fired 182 times at Ukrainian positions and settlements." Ukrin
"Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yusuf Sharif told Russian media that an agreement first proposed in 2017 to give Russia a naval base on the Red Sea coast will finally proceed, giving Moscow an opportunity to replace the base it lost in Syria with the fall of dictator Bashar Assad." Breitbart
"Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss a minerals deal that Bessent said would “provide a long-term security shield for all Ukrainians.” Breitbart
"A Russian attack drone with an explosive warhead struck the shelter covering the destroyed Unit 4 of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) in the night." Ukrin
"Greek authorities have declared a state of emergency on a second island as a series of earthquakes continued to rattle the south-eastern Aegean Sea region.
The emergency measure announced on the island of Amorgos follows a similar decision for nearby Santorini after thousands of unusual tremors were registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi – all popular tourist destinations.
Scientists had expressed hope the seismic swarm could be easing up but a string of earthquakes around magnitude five has renewed concern." IrishTimes
"President Donald Trump continued to signal positive feelings about a future relationship with Russia and Putin, telling reporters that he'd like to see Russia invited back in to join the The Group of Seven major economies, or G7, which until 2014 was the G8 when Russia was included.
"I'd love to have them back. I think it was a mistake to throw them out. Look, it's not a question of liking Russia or not liking Russia. It was the G8," Trump said from the Oval Office upon announcing new US reciprocal tariffs."I said, 'What are you doing? You guys - all you're talking about is Russia and they should be sitting at the table.' And he then added, "I think Putin would love to be back."
The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. In 2014 these nations decided to expel Russia over the annexation of Crimea, but Moscow pointed out that Crimeans overwhelmingly voted to become part of the Russian Federation after a popular referendum.
Another highlight from the Oval Office press conference was when the president called on China and Russia to join the United States in agreeing to cut their enormous defense budgets in half. He said in the context of also urging the three major powers to restart nuclear arms control talks.
"One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, ‘let’s cut our military budget in half.’ And we can do that. And I think we’ll be able to," Trump declared."
ZeroHedge
"US President Donald Trump has backed his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments that Kiev must accept the reality that returning to pre-2014 borders is not feasible, while NATO membership for Ukraine is off the table.Speaking ahead of a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels on Wednesday, Hegseth described Kiev’s goal of reclaiming all lost territories as “unrealistic,” and stressed the need for Ukraine to prepare for a negotiated peace, potentially supported by international troops, but without NATO membership as part of any agreement.
Hegseth rejected media accusations that the US was “betraying” Ukraine. “It’s just a cheap political point to say, oh, we’ve left all the negotiating cards off the table by recognizing some realities that exist on the ground,” he said.
When pressed on whether he had asked Hegseth to soften his remarks to preserve “bargaining chips,” Trump told journalists at the White House that he had not." RT
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