EU Rejects Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal

The European Union’s move to reject American financial giants including Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and even China’s Alipay is part of a broader effort to enhance financial sovereignty and reduce dependency on foreign payment systems. The announcement by the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) signals a major shift in the global financial landscape, with the EU aiming to build an independent and secure digital payments infrastructure.

The EU has long been reliant on American-dominated payment systems, which means that transactions within Europe are often processed through U.S.-controlled networks. This gives the U.S. significant oversight and potential leverage over European financial transactions.

The EU’s decision to move away from American and Chinese payment systems is a bold step toward financial independence. While challenges remain—such as creating a seamless alternative and gaining consumer trust—this move could reshape the financial world and diminish U.S. control over global transactions.

Russian Advances Stalled in Donetsk

The fighting in the Donetsk region has entered an intensified phase, with direct clashes between Ukrainian and Russian military forces yielding outcomes that indicate Russia’s inability to advance in this sector. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are successfully reclaiming territory.

On the Donetsk Front, in the Kurakhovo direction near the Andriyivka settlement, Russian forces launched a mechanized assault on Ukrainian positions today. However, the attack was repelled without success.

Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully neutralized Russian military assets, destroying one tank, two BMP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicles, five military transport vehicles, and eliminating 42 enemy infantry soldiers.

These developments underscore Ukraine’s battlefield advantage, particularly with the continuation of military assistance, which has contributed to the ongoing liberation of towns and villages.

Trump signals that “unpredictable” Musk will be sacked from DOGE!

Donald Trump is telling his inner circle that Elon Musk will soon leave the team, Politico reported, citing three anonymous sources close to Trump. According to the sources, Trump is pleased with Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative, but in recent days the two have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his business and take on a supporting role.

According to them, the US president has shared this with his inner circle, including members of his cabinet. Musk will leave his current role in the coming weeks. The publication notes that many members of the Trump administration and external allies have become frustrated with Elon Musk’s unpredictability and increasingly consider him a political “shortcoming.” The transition will likely coincide with the expiration of Musk’s term as a “special government employee,” which temporarily exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest rules.

The 130-day period is expected to expire in late May or early June, the sources said.

Orban says Hungary will leave the ICC

Hungary has decided to leave the International Criminal Court because it believes it has turned into a political court in recent years, not a court based on the rule of law, but a political court, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He said this was best illustrated by the court’s decision regarding Israel.

“I was the Prime Minister who actually signed the instrument of our accession to the International Criminal Court in 2000, and I have just signed the instrument of withdrawal from the court, because Hungary and the Hungarian government have decided that we will leave the International Criminal Court. The reason is that we are convinced that it has turned into a political court. In recent years, it is not a court based on the rule of law, but a political court. This has been shown most clearly by the decisions related to Israel,” Orbán noted.

He said that the Hungarian Foreign Minister had already submitted the relevant bill to parliament.

“Russia Open to Economic Cooperation, Including with Western Companies – Peskov”.

According to the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, Russia is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation with all states.

“Russia remains open to mutually beneficial cooperation with all states,” Peskov noted.

In addition, he said, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is open to those interested in economic cooperation with the Russian Federation.

“It is open precisely to those who are interested in economic relations,” Peskov noted.

According to him, foreign companies from Europe and the United States have previously expressed interest in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, but not publicly.

Russian media, citing the Roscongress Foundation, report that a number of American companies intend to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be held on June 18-21, and applications have already been accepted.

TRUMP AD FEATURES THE “UNIFIED REICH”

What’s next for America? …as a video of old style newspapers clips along with tinted images of Trump, accompanied by cheerful Hollywood cowboy western music, and a deep voiced narrator… all, to be honest, providing effective brainwashing disinformation for the MAGA fodder. Looks good. Sounds good. And therefor truly deceptive stuff….but yet…

…the “creatives” in the MAGA team managed the greatest Freudian slip of all time: the promise of a UNIFIED REICH!

If the MAGA did “Nazi” this coming… well, now they have it officially released in Trump’s campaign material!

Time for Switzerland’s “Eva Braun” to be reunited with her “Führer”?

Putin’s long time mistress 43-year-old former gymnast Alina Kabaeva – known as Russia’s “most flexible woman” – was sent to Switzerland just before Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Alina Kabaeva trained as a gymnast now earns $7.5 million a year as boss of Russia’s media giant, the “National Media Group”.

She also looks after the twin daughters and two sons fathered by Putin – all of whom have Swiss Passports.

A petition in Switzerland has been signed by 60,000 people saying that “‘It’s time you reunite Eva Braun with her Führer” and further explains that Alina Kabaeva…

“is the favourite wife of delusional dictator and war criminal who has been treacherously attacking Ukraine over the past weeks. As she is supportive of social activities in Russia, she has been attempting to get Russian citizens accustomed to the reality of sanctions after 2014, and personally proclaimed: ‘The worse it gets, the better for us!’”

Having been a flexible gymnast, Alina Kabaeva has developed her flexibility with the truth.

The fact that she is a boss of the largest Russian media outlet makes her bad news in all respects.

She needs to go back to Russia.

Switzerland should not be helping Putin’s immediate family in this way.

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