Ukraine and the World Daily Update May 2, 2025

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It seems like I will be proven right in my assumption that the USA has decided to attack Iran.

China just made one of its rare moves – Xi Jinping will participate in the May 9th parade as we reported earlier, and if you read johanno1.se you already knew that Chinese troops will also march in the parade – both in step and singing.

Guess if North Korea will participate in the parade or not 🧐

The quick-witted will immediately realize that there won’t be any Ukrainian drone swarms over the parade this year, which is unfortunate.

Putin will surely stick close to Xi Jinping as much as he can without looking suspicious, and then there are Chinese scattered everywhere with the risk of a major diplomatic crisis if they happen to get in the way of a drone.

Perhaps they could clear the assembly areas before the parade, but it may not have the same reassuring effect on the Russian populace maybe.

Precisely targeted individual drones would fly under the parade, but if I were to guess, the USA would say a flat no, and probably also Europe, which is trying to improve relations with China and believes we have time.

So Ukraine is once again covered in a pile of red cards from the West after three years, and one must give Putin some credit for thinking ahead here. His ceasefire over the parade totally crashed, but he had a Plan B.

If you have also read johanno1.se, you know that Putin will showcase a lot of new equipment, we guessed that a few weeks ago. This year should be an attempt to demonstrate strength, and they will have T90M, the existing Armata (should be around fifteen), tracked self-propelled howitzers, and if they have anything new and interesting in terms of robots or drone weapons?

Surely also BTR-90, BMP-terminator and 3, and the latest BRDM vehicle.

Well-dressed troops marching in step are taken from the larger strategic reserve set up to attack into the Baltics.

We know that Ukraine could cover the parade in a veritable cloud of angry drones, and we also know that they want to, but the risk of it turning into China’s own Pearl Harbor when Xi is present with his best-dressed soldiers in the parade, and probably also some twelve-star officers, must be considered absolutely imminent.

(but… Ukraine has recently taken a tough stance against China, so they might surprise – hope is always there).

Europe has been struggling to get organized in recent weeks, as we have discussed on johanno1.se, and now Omni wrote that Europe cannot put together a “deterrent force” of 64,000 (why exactly 64,000?) – posted by MXT in yesterday’s thread on johanno1.se.

Anyway – they won’t even be able to send 25,000.

https://omni.se/eu-kan-inte-fa-ihop-fler-an-25000-ukrainasoldater/a/mPjkVO

And then the classic – “UK is ready to send 10,000, but then everyone else must also join, and they don’t, so we can’t send any soldiers.”

And – Lithuania is ready to send a company, but it must be approved by parliament first.

All over Europe, they must vote on this in parliaments, and the quick-witted realize that this is something Russia has been preparing for for a few years and will do everything to prevent a simple majority on the issue. One must use all the bribe money for something that Europe refuses to freeze.

Here I think Europe’s leaders are more than a bit naive and that they should send these 25,000, or 64,000, on an EXERCISE to eastern Baltics with the unspoken purpose of letting them dig in along the border and stay there – that would probably eliminate the Russian attempt no later than during Zapad in September.

But of course, that won’t happen.

No country in Europe is willing to take the lead, and all countries are waiting for someone else to go first – convenient for everyone.

Poland, France, UK, Baltics, Sweden, any country could independently choose to send a brigade to Ukraine and, for example, announce that it will train along the border with Belarus and never go east of the Dnieper?

That would free up UA forces to move eastward.

But today, as we move towards Operation Baltics, I think you get more bang for your buck by sending the forces to the Baltics instead.

NATO’s “tripwire” in the Baltics is probably around a thousand soldiers per country, and Germany has at least established the command structure for the international brigade in Lithuania, even though combat battalions are missing.

Now, onto the next problem that we have also been discussing for a while now on johanno1.se, which may become more relevant now that the Chinese are participating on May 9th with troops.

In Belarus, we will see Russia send in its training units, and then the Belarusian armed forces will start training their entire army towards the Polish border sometime this summer, but there will also be some Chinese SOF companies/battalions participating with senior officers for “anti-terrorist training.”

Belarus probably retained some Wagner, between 3,000 – 11,000, it was said – they are well-versed in war in 2025.

To Kaliningrad, China will also send a few companies of SOF very conveniently this summer/early autumn for “training and peaceful information exchange for brotherhood.”

The purpose is not to pose a threat at all but to act as a deterrent for Europe from attacking into the areas.

Because you can be completely sure that Europe will be very averse to attacking/engaging in any area where Chinese troops and officers are present – especially since China has made it clear through diplomatic channels that it would be seen as an act of war.

This means that the Suwalki Corridor is the only passage, and there Russian SOF will mine as best they can before the start of the attack and carry out ambushes with their “little green men,” who are of course a Lithuanian resistance movement fed up with the decadent West, carrying Lithuanian passports (which they have with them) and equipment.

We have described the actual attack into the Baltics in detail, and as it looks today, at least the primary targets of the attack will be achieved.

SOF will infiltrate deeply and delay the movement of rapid reaction forces to the area, and now in the era of drone weapons, every military base in the Baltics populated by Baltic or European forces is high-risk, so everything should be pre-positioned weeks before the start of the attack – which of course will not happen.

Europe will also have to deal with a lot of domestic problems in the months leading up, with dissatisfied citizens, burning transformer stations, and generally major problems with the railway network.

I guess we have already entered the window for a Russian wave of sabotage?

Imagine February 24, 2022, but without all the mistakes.

Anyway – since you must prepare for war if you want peace, this is something Europe must prepare for, but we are not doing it.

If Europe cannot send 64,000 soldiers to Ukraine for peacekeeping – how on earth will we be able to unite in action against a Russian attack into the Baltics?

Not to mention Svalbard if Putin chooses to deploy a brigade there. Norway will be a bit upset and the world will move on.

By the way, did you know that when home guard members try to buy their own personal weapons, the police usually reject it, not just the hunters who are unwanted 😶

I sincerely hope that Ukraine dares to drone the sh1t parade on May 9th, but now they have just gone from deep-frozen to thawed with the USA – and ordered a lot of weapons, so the likelihood of that is probably very slim.

Finally, you now have the opportunity to show appreciation to MXT and his work on the website and the daily (well…) yellow posts – IT has installed a donation button on johanno1.se, if you look around a bit you will see a QR code.

There is also a donation page for Ukraine on johanno1.se with links to, among others, Swedish Rescuers, drones 2 Ukraine, and other organizations we have learned over time are legitimate and dare to donate to.

On Substack – there is still a chance to follow and subscribe if it feels more right to go that route, which some have done.

johanno1.se

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261 thoughts on “Ukraine and the World Daily Update May 2, 2025”

  1. MatsExtrude

    Good morning!
    Russian losses in Ukraine 2025-05-02:

    • 1110 KWIA
    • 9 Tanks
    • 5 APVs
    • 50 Artillery systems
    • 4 Anti-Aircraft systems
    • 138 UAVs
    • 132 Vehicles & Fuel tanks

    SLAVA UKRAINI!

  2. MatsExtrude
    AFU: In total, 199 combat clashes were recorded during the past day.
    Yesterday, the enemy launched three missiles and 96 aviation strikes at the positions of Ukrainian units and settlements, using five missiles and 172 controlled bombs. In addition, carried out 5898 shells, 61 of them – from jet systems of salvage fire, and deployed 2991 kamikaze drones for impression.
  3. MatsExtrude

    “At night, the 🇺🇦Ukrainian military shot down 64/150 🇷🇺Russian UAVs, another 62 UAVs were lost in location due to EW action”

    3. johan No.1

      Drone Swarms

      When FIM wakes up after his Walpurgis Night celebration, he will remember our discussion about drone swarms in 2023 🤣🤣

  5. 205

    Of 199 combat actions, some appear to be missing. Usually matches a few when. Reported in sections 160. 39 battles are missing. New front section..?
    Update from 08:00 02.05.2025 on the Russian invasion

    A total of 199 combat actions have been registered in the past 24 hours.
    ⏱️ 199, 177, 178, 168, 174, 156, 175, 168, 144, 165, 96, 127, 162, 143, 125, 111, 99

    #Kharkiv 8↗️
    ⏱️2, 2, 9, 6, 0, 0, 0, 4, 4, 0, 1, 2, 7, 1
    #Kupyansk 5
    ⏱️6, 9, 7, 3, 4, 5, 4, 1, 3, 2, 1, 7, 11, 4
    #Lyman 27💥💥
    ⏱️36, 21, 18, 20, 22, 19, 15, 20, 14, 25, 12, 14, 17, 20
    #Siverskyi 4
    ⏱️2, 4, 6, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2
    #Kramatorsk 6
    ⏱️6, 13, 10, 16, 13, 8, 13, 1, 6, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8
    #Toretsk 4↘️
    ⏱️10, 6, 14, 9, 29, 16, 17, 13, 23, 10, 18, 26, 11
    #Pokrovsk 64↘️💥💥💥
    ⏱️85, 75, 59, 64, 68, 44, 65, 56, 53, 61, 39, 54, 64
    #Novopavlivka 15💥
    ⏱️16, 13, 23, 13, 13, 19, 10, 15, 17, 19, 5, 12, 9, 9
    #Huliaipil 0
    ⏱️0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
    #Orikhivsk 4
    ⏱️5, 0, 5, 1, 4, 4, 9, 3, 5, 3, 4, 3, 3, 1
    #Prydniprovsky 1
    ⏱️1, 1, 5, 1, 1 , 1, 3, 1, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0
    #Kursk 33↗️💥💥
    ⏱️21, 25, 15, 23, 15, 30, 27, 26, 22, 21, 16, 20, 23, 21

    Eight firefights took place in the Kharkiv sector yesterday near Vovchansk, Kamianka, Topoly, and towards Novovasylivka and Liptsi.

    Five attacks from occupiers were registered in the Kupyansk sector. Ukrainian defense forces🇺🇦 repelled enemy attacks in the areas of Novoosynove, Hlushkivka, Nova Kruhlyakivka, and Zahryzove.

    Towards Lyman, the enemy attacked 27 times and attempted to advance in the areas of Nadiya, Yampolivka, Kolodyazy, and towards Hrekivka, Torske, Ridkodub, and Zelena Dolyna.

    In the Siversky sector, the enemy attacked towards Verkhnekamianske and Hryhorivka. A total of four firefights took place yesterday.

    In the Kramatorsk sector, the Ukrainian armed forces repelled six hostile attacks near Chasiv Yar, Novomarkove, and towards Bila Hora.

    In the Toretsk sector, the enemy conducted four attacks near Shcherbynivka, Druzhba, and towards Diliyivka.

    In the Pokrovsk sector, the AFU🇺🇦 stopped 64 aggressor attacks in the areas of Zvirove, Yelizavetivka, Promin, Vodiane Druhe, Oleksandropil, Malynivka, Lysivka, Dachanske, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novosergiivka, Nadiivka, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyarivka, Troitske, Andriivka, as well as towards Pokrovsk, Romanivka, Stara Mykolaivka, Nova Poltavka, Myroliubivka, Bahatyrya, and Oleksiivka.

    In the Novopavlivka sector, the Ukrainian armed forces repelled 15 hostile attacks in the areas of Kostiantynopil, Novosilka, Pryvilne, Vilne Pole, and towards Bahatyry and Shevchenko.

    No combat actions took place in the Huliaipil sector yesterday.

    In the Orikhivsk sector, near Lobkove, Kamianske, and Stepove, the invaders made four senseless attacks on AFU🇺🇦 positions.

    In the Prydniprovsky sector, the enemy stormed AFU🇺🇦 fortifications once without success.

    There were 33 combat actions in the Kursk sector. The enemy carried out 210 artillery attacks, five of which were with multiple rocket systems, and conducted 15 air strikes, releasing 21 guided air bombs.

    No signs of hostile offensive groups were detected in the Volyn and Polissya sectors.

    Yesterday, the Ukrainian defense forces🇺🇦 hit six areas with concentrations of enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment, a UAV checkpoint, and two hostile air defense installations with robotic troops and artillery.

  6. Lynx

    It is very interesting that Moscow is including Chinese troops in the parade. It is such a clear “fuck off” to the USA that even the stomach should be able to detect it. With the mineral agreement in place and the first approval of arms purchases (and a promise to speed up deliveries of already approved weapon systems), I probably sleep a little better after all. Then the shit circus has promised to continue for another 100 days with its peace efforts, but the most essential seems to have been achieved – Moscow could not sell a deal where the USA would exploit together with Moscow from the occupied areas in Ukraine.

    My napkin sketch is that it is because Europe was extremely clear that no capital will recognize illegally occupied areas as Russian (guessing that even China has been clear there due to the one-China doctrine) and that Congress has been clear that it does not change its position on Moscow’s illegal acts of aggression. Trump would have been internationally isolated and even acted against the will of legislators in the USA if he had continued on that path and together with the villains in Moscow started plundering Ukraine. It would have even placed him and his companies on sanctions lists in Europe and the USA (which Trump would of course have pardoned himself from), with dire consequences.

    I believe that we are slowly moving towards a sobering up when it comes to the USA and Moscow, and that Vladimir risks tasting Uncle Barbro’s displeasure in long rants on Trump’s social media.

    Regarding peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, I want to remember that the initiative was taken when the discussion on a ceasefire had begun. My own reaction then was that no one seriously believes that there will be a ceasefire with peace negotiations because the parties are too far apart. I interpreted the Coalition of the Willing more as a vague declaration of intent than a serious attempt to put together a military force to guarantee that the ceasefire will be upheld by Moscow.

    A European effort that is serious will be handled by the European part of NATO, including some peripheral role for Turkey, and the highest commander will at least initially be French, German, and British, according to my napkin sketch.

    A scenario where China is in Kaliningrad to deter NATO from responding to an attack into the Baltics, I think is very unlikely. China and the USA are now open enemies, and the USA is still part of NATO with 100,000 troops in Europe plus European NATO with significantly larger resources in all domains.

    If there are special operations forces in Kaliningrad, they will likely have to move if they do not want to be the receiving party in NATO’s violent response, where the nature reserve becomes a battlefield and the Baltic Fleet is decimated unless Moscow immediately retreats across the border. If China gets involved in this way, I guess they will also actively draw the USA into the conflict, and then it could escalate not only in Europe. Now I don’t think that China intends to be in Kaliningrad to prevent a military response from NATO; rather, I think China does not want to be nearby if Moscow plans to attack NATO. A Chinese-Russian attack on Europe would be the death blow to the Chinese miracle and almost guarantee that the USA will join the war, angry as Asian giant hornets.

    It is simply a different situation we are discussing, no longer a hybrid war where peacetime mechanisms are to be discussed in parliament. In the Baltic scenario, they are replaced by NATO Article 5, and it is war. A war where European NATO alone can mobilize more resources in domains where Moscow simply cannot match. This also applies to Svalbard, where Moscow would immediately encounter significant maintenance problems. Moscow does not have the capacity to project militarily superior forces over long distances from Russia. They must stay close to Russian-controlled areas.

    1. MatsExtrude

      Well written 👍
      I also don’t believe in Johan’s scenario. However, IF it actually becomes reality, I’m afraid there will be a lot of hesitation within NATO regarding article 5 before anything actually happens.
      But you are right that it will probably happen much faster than now in “peacetime”. 

      1. Lynx

        Difficult to say, but I guess that NATO’s planning for such cases will be immediately activated. If we then assume that China clarifies that they do not tolerate attacks on areas where Chinese troops may be present, I believe NATO’s plans will be followed largely without friction, my guess is that the US will pick up the gauntlet thrown down.

        If, instead, we assume that only Moscow has skin in the game, I can imagine the US saying okay, but we will only participate passively through sensors/satellites and higher staffs. Europe can handle this on their own. And we can, provided that we act in domains where we can seriously harm Moscow.

    3. johan No.1

      You are starting to sound hopeful about Trump Lynx 😀

      But yes – there are some other tones and Kellog is back, and the worst pro-Russian negotiator got fired.

      Something seems to have happened?

      Test of NATO – assuming that Europe and the USA interpret it as something other than hybrid warfare?

      So far, the response to Russia’s sabotage wave is, to say the least, lukewarm.

      But China is prepared for a full trade war with the USA and has just outed all the fashion houses, and has had troops in Belarus already, and will have troops in the parade on May 9 – and Xi is there.

      I seem to recall that he hasn’t come in previous years?

      1. Lynx

        I will be drunk-texting on Signal later tonight to check in, but I still sense a slight shift, yes. I think he’s choosing the easiest path and with compact resistance (I guess both from the outside world and internally), he chose a deal with Ukraine instead of Moscow. And of course, China’s presumed presence on the 9th is a pretty clear “fuck off” from Vladimir that will surely hit home.

        If Russian troops invade Lithuania and stay there, then it’s Article 5. Of course, one can imagine strange variations like “Oops, we went the wrong way, sorry,” but then it becomes a bit deflated and not a test of NATO in my opinion. But we’ll see, I still sleep a little better after the mineral deal and the statements made, and that Ukraine now has approval to buy weapons, even on credit it seems. And of course, already decided deliveries are being expedited.

        Yes, that trade war is almost entertaining now – the finance minister says that the USA is ready to meet China halfway and that discussions are ongoing for a new, fairer trade agreement, while China denies even talking to the USA and is gearing up for a trade war 😄. It seems like Trump has bitten off more than he can chew and wants to backpedal, while China remains indifferent.

        No, I don’t think China has had troops there before at the parades. It’s strategic communication that even Maga should be able to perceive, one might think.

        1. johan No.1

          I think it’s incredibly fun –

          USA – we are negotiating with China, they came to us and asked for it and now we are generous.

          China – USA calls us twelve times a day but we don’t bother to answer.

          Now we don’t have the whole story or how this goes AND India chose the USA and went hard against China but it almost looks like Trump blinked first here?

      1. MatsExtrude

        I’m not usually afraid of wasps (don’t understand why people get so nervous as soon as a wasp comes near) but those ones were definitely not to be messed with. Had a regular common wasp in the bathroom this summer when the window was open. It was also a bit intimidating but miles away from those beasts!

    5. CB500four

      Well speculated.
      I think Tr is starting to doubt Pu, but is hesitant to completely abandon him yet, but eventually Tr begins to understand that Pu is trying to deceive him.
      I also don’t think Chinese Sof would be any obstacle if the EU/NATO were to be attacked. If we are so afraid of the Chinese, it would be enough for Xi to say that Ry must have safe passage through Europe or else it’s war with China.
      I read the book “Stalin’s Revenge” a few years ago, and according to it, around 2 million women were raped when the Russians advanced towards Berlin. It was even the case that Zjukov had to try to stop it by issuing bans and imposing penalties if anyone was caught.
      The desire for revenge among the Soviet soldiers was of course great after the Germans’ atrocities, but after their behavior in Ukraine, I don’t think there would be much difference in their conduct compared to 44-45.
      They simply must not set foot in Europe.

  7. MatsExtrude

    Sounds like they are giving up the peace negotiations.

    “The US will no longer be a mediator in the negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation,” the US State Department stated. “We will continue to assist, but we will no longer travel around the world as mediators in meetings.

    Now it is up to the two sides; the time has come for them to present and develop concrete ideas on how to end this conflict. It will be up to them.”

  8. MatsExtrude

    “The Kremlin decided that it was time to start forcing the population to pay for the war, and decided to raise the selling price of Gazprom gas for electric power and housing and communal services enterprises by 21.3% from July 1. Now Russians will be warming themselves with vodka”

  9. MatsExtrude

    As the threat from Russia has grown, the Swedish and French air forces have increasingly come to cooperate to protect Europe’s borders. This is written by Politico, which visited the airbase in Luleå during a joint exercise.

    Both countries have pursued similar paths, building up a strong air force with domestic production of aircraft as the foundation.

    “It is so easy for Sweden and France to cooperate, we have exactly the same mindset,” says Nicolas Chambaz, responsible for international relations within the French air force.

    1. Lynx

      Tnx MXT, your insight yesterday about long-distance systems is mentioned in the Politico article (which Omni is based on). Very informative!

  10. MatsExtrude

    The EU is offering to increase its purchases of American goods by 50 billion euros, equivalent to 550 billion Swedish kronor, to solve the issues in the trade relations.

    However, the chief negotiator signals that the EU will not accept Trump’s general tariffs of 10 percent as part of a fair settlement.

    In the discussions, Sefcovic has highlighted the fact that Europe buys a lot of services from the USA, and that the Union’s trade deficit, including these, amounts to 50 billion euros.

    If the parties agree on that amount, Sefcovic believes it will be quickly resolved.

    1. Lynx

      I believe in a fairly quick retreat by Trump soon where he basically returns to the levels that applied earlier and declares a big win 😂.

      1. MatsExtrude

        Sure, then Leavitt will stand in the White House and brag about what an incredibly skilled negotiator Trump is, even though in a way we’re back to where we were before, Fox of course hangs on, etc. 😀

        Suddenly Trump’s popularity rises again because many will buy into it and believe that he has acted smart when it has actually been a total disaster.

  11. MatsExtrude

    “The one who buys oil from Iran is not allowed to do business with the USA,” said Donald Trump on Thursday evening after the announcement that the Iran talks are canceled.

    Later in the evening, he emphasized the message in a post on Truth Social: Everyone who buys oil or petrochemical products from Iran must stop immediately.”

    1. MatsExtrude

      The oil price dropped all the way down to 58 last April, but after the statement, it has risen again and is currently at around 59.7, which is still low thankfully, and we hope it stays below 60.

    2. MatsExtrude

      Then we also have this, although I suspect it will not happen:

      “US senators propose 500 percent tariffs on countries buying Russian oil

      72 American senators are behind a proposal for “crippling” 500 percent tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, and uranium if Putin does not negotiate for peace. This is according to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, as reported by Bloomberg.

      The purpose is to help Donald Trump negotiate a “decent and fair” peace, according to Graham, who is a close ally of the president and has often advocated support for Ukraine.”
      https://omni.se/usa-senatorer-foreslar-500-procentiga-tullar-pa-lander-som-koper-rysk-olja/a/xmjKxj

      1. Lynx

        500% on China would make all trade cease and the big tech companies move to Europe (Apple was considering India last week but with 500% tariffs even on goods from India, it’s less wise).

        I repeat what I wrote yesterday with the clarification that it would be nice if the USA could now choose a method that is not completely devastating for the American economy. The trend itself is nice otherwise and something we would like to see more of.

        1. MatsExtrude

          I don’t really care if it’s devastating for the USA, they chose Trump themselves!

          However, if the USA collapses, it will of course affect everyone else too, so maybe a minor economic downturn is the best, and maybe we’re already there.

          1. Lynx

            The problem is that such sanctions will be introduced with great fanfare and then immediately discontinued when the dollar falls and investors flee. Perhaps it’s better to come up with something else. But Trump and the GOP seem to have a very limited toolbox nowadays, with only a hammer, so everything naturally becomes a nail.

            1. MatsExtrude

              Well, if the idea is to boost American industry and reduce dependence on China, it could probably have been solved in a better way.

              The problem is that this will also drive up prices because it will be difficult to keep prices down. Sure, if you invest heavily in robots and automation, maybe it could work. 
              At the same time, this does not lead to a particularly large number of new jobs. 

              1. Lynx

                I believe the USA is lagging behind when it comes to robots and automation, with Germany and Japan far ahead.

                My thought was mainly that it would work somewhat as a sanction against Moscow if the USA quickly has to end them to save its own economy.

                1. MatsExtrude

                  Ah, I thought first of all about the whole trade war.

                  Yes, you are right. 500% against China and India, among others, is an absurd level.
                  The intention is good but unsustainable.

      2. Westley Richard

        I think there’s something fishy about this. Vance has been appointed as the customs czar, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Lindsey fills Vance’s bucket with crap that he can’t sort out, and suddenly Lindsey has moved up a notch.

  12. DJ

    It must still sting for Putin to know that so much power is handed over to China through their military presence in Russia is so significant. He can surely see that it is not entirely unlike Russia vis-a-vis Belarus.

  13. MatsExtrude

    “In just a few hours, Donald Trump went from talking about the ‘golden era’ of the USA to warning parents about more expensive and fewer toys,” writes Stephen Collinson for CNN.

    It was a rare pessimistic acknowledgment that the trade war against China will be costly, he continues, adding that it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    “History shows that a country can talk itself into a recession.”

    The report that the US economy shrank by 0.3 percent in the first quarter is clear evidence of the risks Trump is taking with his trade war, writes David E Sanger in the New York Times.”

  14. 205

    Thank you for this morning’s analysis!

    What effects has Trump’s attitude towards Beijing had on Russia’s relationship with China (and perhaps Iran)?

    It is clear that Trump has done everything to sabotage the relationship between the USA and China. At the same time, Trump has opened up to building a closer relationship with Russia (at least in words – not as clearly in actions).

    But Russia does not seem to have agreed to distance itself from China to build a relationship with the USA. Instead, the parade in Moscow seems to highlight the Kremlin’s approach to Beijing. Will this be an awakening for Trump?

    Will Russia be as loyal to Iran, Trump’s other archenemy?

    1. MatsExtrude

      Russia is probably too dependent on China to want to pick a fight with them. Furthermore, if one were to approach the USA and seriously confront China, there is always the risk that China decides to take back some Russian territories or stop buying oil and exporting all the electronics that Russia depends on.
      It would probably be enough for China to halt all trade for Russia to collapse.
      If China were to resort to weapons, Russia would have nothing to counter with, and the USA would hardly come to the rescue. 

      The fact that China seems to have approached Russia instead and also appears to be sending soldiers (even though it is denied) is probably a reaction to Trump’s trade war. China simply chooses to strengthen ties with Russia, and Russia is so dependent that they have no choice.

      It is likely, as you suspect, that the USA’s trade war with China has some significance in why the USA is not getting Russia on their side as they had hoped.

      We’ll see what happens with Iran, but I doubt that Russia has any opportunities to help them to any significant extent even if they wanted to. I guess they simply won’t do anything at all.

      They didn’t help Armenia regarding Nagorno-Karabakh and they withdrew from Syria. They probably don’t have enough military resources for more than the war in Ukraine.

  15. 205

    Bayractar_1love:

    Numerous reports are emerging from Crimea regarding widespread drone attacks across multiple locations, significantly exceeding the usual volume observed during such events. While the majority of reports appear to originate from residents in the Sevastopol area, drone attacks have also been reported in Kacha, Yevpatoriya, Saky, Dzhankoy, and several other locations.

  16. MatsExtrude

    “USA’s president Donald Trump has signed an executive order to cut government funding to the public service companies PBS and NPR, several media outlets report.

    On social media, the White House justifies the decision by stating that the companies “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news’,” TT reports.”

  17. MatsExtrude

    “Empowered by President Trump’s re-entry into the White House, many staunch right-wing Catholics see their chance to try to elect a more conservative pope, reports Politico.

    Voices both inside and outside the Vatican have called Pope Francis a heretic, an antipope, and even the Antichrist, upset over his views on same-sex marriage and migration.
    – The hope is for a pope who focuses more on Catholic issues such as opposition to abortion and family rather than climate change and migration, says Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a German business leader and Catholic activist.”

    1. Westley Richard

      Can’t Musk become a cardinal and straighten things out?
      That whole religion thing seems to be quite flexible in the USA.
      Met an American priest and his wife on a vacation trip. When I asked him about which religion he preached, he meant that he filled in here and there when a congregation needed a priest 😯

  20. MatsExtrude

    “Trump will propose a record $1.01 trillion in national security spending for fiscal year 2026—a 13% increase from this year, – Bloomberg Key priorities:
    ▪️Golden Dome missile defense;
    ▪️Nuclear modernization;
    ▪️Shipbuilding;
    ▪️Border security;
    ▪️3.8% military pay raise.”

  21. MatsExtrude

    “Russia’s FSB is reportedly planning fake terror attacks in regional cities like Khabarovsk and Ulan-Ude on May 9 to frame Ukraine, according to InformNapalm. Moscow’s parade will stay untouched. The aim? Stir up outrage, block peace talks, and rally support for more war.”

  23. MatsExtrude

    “Germany’s intelligence agency has officially labeled the far-right AfD as an extremist threat, enabling expanded surveillance powers. AfD is now fully classified—not just “suspected”—as extremist. Authorities can use informants and tap communications. Civil servants may be barred from joining;”

  25. Jan W

    What will the US threat against Iran mean for the markets? Iran produces approximately 3.3 million barrels of crude oil per day according to the latest Oil Market Report. Total global production is just over 100 million. Who dares to buy Iranian if the US follows through on the threats? This would have a significant impact on the oil market (and the global economy?).

    https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-april-2025 (highlights)

    No dramatic increase in the oil market so far. Around USD 2 plus in the last day.

    https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/brent-crude-oil

    Russia produced around 9 million barrels per day in March, see link above. Down from around 10 million at the beginning of 2022 (see any complete OMR). They had hoped the decline would have been steeper.

      1. MatsExtrude

        Well, what is happening between the USA and China probably has a much greater influence on the market right now.

        I saw that the price had dropped back a bit, just below 59 now.

    2. MatsExtrude

      The risk is of course high that the oil price will increase, which would be very unfortunate because right now the export profits are not very high for Russia.

    3. Westley Richard

      China buys 90% of Iran’s exports, don’t think they care so much about what the USA thinks, especially not when there is already a 147% tariff on their goods.

  26. MatsExtrude

    There has been talk of total collapse now and then during the war, but this time it might be serious.
    It’s almost as if one begins to suspect that Israel’s goal nowadays is to eradicate the entire population and not just to stop Hamas. Unfortunately, it probably only fuels hatred and extremism even more and cements continued resistance.

    “The humanitarian work in Gaza is on the verge of complete collapse. This is now being warned by the Red Cross, according to AFP and Reuters.

    The reason is the two-month blockade that prevents vital aid from flowing in.

    “If deliveries are not resumed immediately, the International Red Cross Committee will not have access to food, medicine, and life-saving essentials needed to sustain many of the programs in Gaza,” the organization writes in a press release.”
    https://omni.se/roda-korset-humanitara-arbetet-i-gaza-nara-totalkollaps/a/5Eqmb6

    1. CB500four

      It is so terrible what is happening in Gaza.
      Hamaz knew that Israel’s revenge would be terrible, and that civilians would die, but they coldly calculate that for every woman and child who dies, the hatred against Israel in the world will grow. What Israel is doing now is committing overkill against an entire population, while Hamaz leaders sit in tunnels and cozy up while the world condemns Israel.
      Hamaz’s goal is not a prosperous Palestine but an eradicated Israel. They are not open to discussion, Sharon tried, and expelled a number of Israeli settlers and demolished their houses for peace. Two weeks later, Hamas had moved up positions and fired rockets from the former settlements.
      They have a martyr fund where some support money and funds from the UN are transferred. From there, support is paid to those who commit deeds in the Palestinian cause, and to relatives of suicide bombers, among others.
      The Arab League has agreed not to grant citizenship to Palestinians in their countries, as they are supposed to populate Palestine when Israel is out of the picture.
      The UN has granted permanent refugee status to Palestinians, which also passes on to their sons, so the number of Palestinian refugees is constantly increasing.
      The above is stated in the book “Israel and her enemies” written by a Swedish journalist who started as a Palestine supporter, but after spending a lot of time in the Middle East changed his mind, and then lost all hope for peace and freedom in the Middle East. Just the fact that Israel is the only democracy in the region says a lot.
      The Palestinians are a people who have been exploited and mistreated by the whole world, both “friends” and enemies. The decisions made since 1948 have led to nothing but suffering, and a cementing of their exclusion in the whole world.

  27. MatsExtrude

    “Voting in Verkhovna Rada for ratification of the Minerals deal between the US and Ukraine is planned for May 8, — People’s Deputy Zheleznyak”

  31. MatsExtrude

    Russians have started piecing together budget kamikaze drones from hoverboards, fastening them with metal frames and arming them with mines.

  32. MatsExtrude

    “Ukrainian intelligence ‘put down’ the servers of Russian providers, – RBC-Ukraine Cyber specialists of GUR attacked the infrastructure of large Russian Internet providers, in particular the company ‘SibSet’, as a result of which thousands of users were left without access to the network.”

  33. MatsExtrude

    “Russian milblogger Romanov is shocked—again. Gerasimov told Putin that Kursk Oblast was fully “liberated”, while fighting still rages near the border. But why the surprise? Lying to the President is practically a job requirement at the Russian MoD.”

  34. MatsExtrude

    The Swedish industry continues to strengthen despite the uncertainty in global trade. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.2 in April, up from 53.8 in March, according to new figures from Swedbank and Silf.

    Jörgen Kennemar, responsible for the analysis of the Purchasing Managers’ Index at Swedbank, notes that the uncertainty surrounding global trade does not hinder the recovery in the Swedish industry.
    https://omni.se/svensk-industri-vaxer-trots-oro-kring-global-handel/a/GyAzzV

    “The Stockholm stock exchange is trading cheerfully on the last trading day of the week, after being closed for Walpurgis Night. At 11.25, the situation is as follows:
    • OMXSPI: +0.5%
    • OMXS30: +0.3%”
    https://omni.se/avvaktande-oppning-vantas/a/zAjR5v

  35. MatsExtrude

    “A ship from the international volunteer organization Freedom Flotilla has been attacked by drones off the coast of Malta, the organization stated in a press release.

    ‘We have 30 international human rights activists on board the ship right now, and it is sinking,’ said the organization’s press officer Yasemin Acar to TV4 News.

    According to the organization, Israeli drones are involved, AFP reports. Israel has not responded to the accusations.”
    https://omni.se/hjalpfartyg-attackerat-greta-thunberg-pa-vag-ombord/a/EyAdrG

    “The aid organization Freedom Flotilla reports that they have not received any response to the distress signal they sent after one of the organization’s ships was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta.

    ‘According to international law, Malta is obligated to act and ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress in the vicinity,’ the organization wrote on X. The message was published around 5 o’clock on Friday morning, over four hours after the attack was said to have begun.”
    https://omni.se/hjalporganisationen-inget-svar-pa-vart-sos-larm/a/nyj5zm

    “It is likely Israel behind the night’s attack on a ship from the aid organization Freedom Flotilla. This is according to Anders Persson, an expert on the Israel-Palestine conflict, speaking to TT.

    ‘Historically, Israel has taken a tough stance against this type of activists in order to deter them. It could involve individual activists, organizations, or states that are perceived to be against Israel’s interests.'”
    https://omni.se/experten-troligen-israel-som-attackerat-fartyget/a/25AM0l

  37. MatsExtrude

    “In Ryssland’s Dagestan tvingas förskolebarn in i skenbara militärparader inför den 9 maj-segerdagen, klädda i små uniformer och viftande med flaggor, skamlöst utnyttjande av unga barn för att driva på patriotisk propaganda.”

  38. MatsExtrude

    “The US has begun sharing some of its most sensitive intelligence on Chinese and Russian space operations with Britain and other Five Eyes nations, – The Times Until this month, the activity of Space Delta 9, a unit focused on America’s orbital warfare, was largely deemed “US eyes only”.

    However, US military chiefs have taken the unprecedented step of allowing UK military leaders to observe their work at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, in light of mounting concern about China’s militarisation of space.”

      1. jahojariaho

        Trump lies every day! If he doesn’t have the answer, he lies about something! The worst thing for him would be to admit that he doesn’t know/can’t!

  39. MatsExtrude

    The Trump effect is spreading.

    “As recently as February, the conservative opposition appeared to be heading for victory in the upcoming election in Australia this weekend. But since Donald Trump took office as president of the United States, support for the conservatives and their party leader Peter Dutton has plummeted significantly, writes NBC.

    The pattern is reminiscent of the recent election in Canada where fears of how the conservative party would handle Trump caused them to lose what seemed like a sure victory.

    Since taking office in 2022, Dutton has pushed his party further to the right and clearly shaped his policies with Trump as a role model. Among other things, he wants to make significant cuts in public administration and reduce immigration.”
    https://omni.se/trump-pa-vag-att-sanka-en-konservativ-favorit-till/a/25AMzy

      1. MatsExtrude

        I think it seems more like he is attempting a pseudosadistic revolution.
        Or wait, maybe it’s rather a pseudomasochistic revolution… 🤔

  40. MatsExtrude

    “This is my home, my history, my childhood, and no one has the right to take it away just like that. I want my daughter to live in a free country.” Yana “Multyk” Zalevska is a kamikaze drone pilot who endured Russian occupation, was seriously wounded, returned to combat missions”

  41. MatsExtrude

    Tesla’s sales are plummeting in Sweden – new registrations decreased by over 80 percent in April compared to the same month last year, despite the fact that the overall car market increased.

    Company car expert Ronny Svensson emphasizes that the situation looks really bad for the electric car manufacturer.
    – We’re not talking about a decline. It’s a pure disaster, he says.

  43. johan No.1

    I managed to buy a bottle of Leyenda yesterday, must have negotiated well, and had a sneak peek at it but today is Friday and there’s a little bit left at the bottom of the bottle so Friday drinking is guaranteed even in the Caribbean 👍

    As usual, it starts at 18:00:00:01 with fun dog videos – but unfortunately, I haven’t found many so I’ll do something else fun instead that will blow you away.

        1. Lammis watching ruzzian empire go BOOM

          Very interesting! There is probably a new vote in the EU again this summer on the continued freezing of funds, and Hungary has of course threatened to block once again – in the worst case, the frozen assets would be returned to Russia (there is some deadline approaching, can’t remember the details) – but this sounds promising!

  45. MatsExtrude

    “US officials have prepared a number of options for Trump to increase economic pressure on Russia, — Bloomberg 👀 Trump has not yet made a decision, since diplomatic efforts are ongoing.”

  52. MatsExtrude

    “USA’s and Ukraine’s mineral agreement, signed this week, has created nervousness among individuals within the Russian elite, reports the Washington Post. The concern is that the conditions for a peace agreement favoring Russia have deteriorated.”

  53. MatsExtrude

    Not everything is pitch black in the USA!
    Since the unemployment rate remains at the same level, 177,000 more people must still be without jobs. Could it be that all the government employees Musk has fired?
    By the way, saw a segment about DOGE’s savings. Only 4% of the budget goes to salaries, it will likely require much more than just cutting down on staff to make a difference.

    “177,000 new jobs were created outside the agricultural sector in the USA in April. That was significantly more than the expected 130,000. The unemployment rate remained as expected at 4.2 percent, according to statistics from the US Department of Labor.”
    https://omni.se/a/rPRpnA

  54. MatsExtrude

    I don’t disagree, but does even the USA spend 5%?

    “NATO chief Mark Rutte proposes that member countries should spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defense, according to sources cited by Reuters. An additional 1.5 percent is proposed to be spent on other defense-related equipment, which would mean meeting Donald Trump’s demand of 5 percent.”
    https://omni.se/a/vg7WKB

  55. MatsExtrude

    There are complaints about the Green Party left and right, and they are also blamed for the restoration of wetlands. I actually didn’t think they were part of the government, but I guess they must be after all?

    “The government’s investments in restoring wetlands resulted last year in an emission reduction equivalent to 0.02 percent of Sweden’s total emissions, reports SVT News. By 2030, the government will invest 3.7 billion SEK in rewetting, and although the effect is limited so far, climate and environment minister Romina Pourmokhtari is satisfied.”

    1. johan No.1

      “even though the effect is limited for now” – is that what is called symbolic politics?

      Has anyone seen an analysis on the increase of mosquitoes?

        1. johan No.1

          Mosquito larva burgers when Stockholmers sit in the garden during the summer in mosquito net hats and smell mosquito repellent.

          In the Uppsala area, it pours in between when it’s a bad year in the Dal River and houses by the Dal River are cheaper than average.

          1. MatsExtrude

            I think the government has an ulterior motive with that.
            When you’re about to go crazy from scratching all the mosquito bites, you won’t be able to concentrate on anything else. It’s a bit like the opposite of offering bread and circuses but with the same effect.

      2. CB500four

        Read somewhere that it takes around 80-100 years before a peat bog absorbs more than it releases after restoration, but that was forest land, I assume it goes faster with agricultural land.
         
        Have experience from a sandy beach in the area that became a Natura 2000 site in the 90s. In the pine forest above, the ditches were filled in, resulting in the forest standing and dying, and the number of mosquitoes exploded.
         
        Restoring peatlands is fine, but everything should be done in moderation.

  56. MatsExtrude

    He is like a child…

    “Donald Trump will revoke Harvard’s tax exemption, he writes in a post on his own social platform Truth Social according to AFP. ‘It’s what they deserve,’ Trump writes. The background is a conflict between Trump and the university management, which has refused to follow directives from the president.”
    https://omni.se/a/zAJ5G9

    1. johan No.1

      What I don’t understand is why full-cost universities receive large government grants at the same time?

      Also, I have been thinking about the completely insane healthcare system in the USA, where the cost for a visit to a doctor to check the ears can cost $10,000. There is no connection between hourly wages, office, and overhead costs, instead, the cost has been completely pulled out of thin air.

      A childbirth and staying in the hospital for a few weeks can amount to half a million dollars or more.

      In Portugal, you go to a private clinic and pay 30EUR for a consultation.

      1. MatsExtrude

        I don’t really know how their school system works, but maybe it’s a way to keep costs down for those who are studying.

        The healthcare system in the USA feels completely incomprehensible. It would be interesting to know how it works. Without insurance, it seems like you’re completely screwed, and even if you have insurance, the risk of being ripped off seems high.

        But I guess that’s how it is when it’s almost as pure capitalism as you can get. A functioning safety net is sooooo communist and woke! 😂

        1. DJ

          Ojojoj, just 48 seconds after the Friday drinking session begins, you lose your guard and come out as a communist. The USA is still very far from capitalism, right? Just look at places like Hong Kong or Jersey, which are more capitalist – healthcare is quite accessible there, actually.

  58. johan No.1

    I have checked China’s trips to the USA and since 2012, it’s been +10 times and only once has Xi attended the May 9th parade and never with a delegation.

    China has made a very clear statement about who they see as their strategic partner here 😶

    In early February, China confirmed that they would attend the parade, and by then Trump had been engaged in his tariff war with China for a while already 🧐

    1. MatsExtrude

      Yes, Xi and Putin have probably chosen each other and I understand that. Most people want stability and it’s not exactly Trump’s strong suit.
      Now the question is, will China maintain the tariffs to weaken the USA and at the same time provide more and more support to Russia?
      The USA could end up as the real loser if Trump doesn’t get help to untangle the mess he’s gotten himself into.

      1. johan No.1

        -India chose the USA

        -Vietnam chose the USA (major export destination for China)

        -Ukraine strongly criticized China a few weeks ago

        -Europe will not choose China if China chooses Russia

        -USA will attack Iran

        -Europe will immediately come back to the USA if Trump thaws towards Ukraine

        🧐

  60. johan No.1

    The time is 18:00:00:01 and I can only say WELCOME TO FRIDAY DRINKING 🪼

    A real man, or woman, or any other gender identity (everyone is welcome as long as you drink strong and a lot) never backs down from two drinks in a row.

    Quite a few in the thread took Valborg very seriously judging by the late-night comments, and now the expectation is high for a wild Friday drinking session as we see in the thread comments.

    There are important things in life, and then there’s Friday drinking.

    Mubuto’s grandchild will show up to juggle with fireballs on live video together with Golda Meir’s daughter – it’s going to be crazy and it starts at 19:00, they will take turns balancing on a short ladder.

    A warning that Mossad will be following the thread today, and if you post Palestinian flags, they have written to me in DM that there will be liquidation within an hour – of course, you can do as you please, but I personally plan to lay low with the Palestinian protests just during Friday drinking to be on the safe side.

    While writing world-leading posts, I’m also working on a proposal for gold exploitation in Angola – mostly just been sitting around looking at sports cars that I’ll buy when the billions start rolling in, but I’ll soon start with the actual idea.

    The shift from Trump is still under observation, and there will be a post about it tomorrow.

    Then on Sunday, there will be a post about how we don’t protect the elderly and children very well with horror examples from the UK – the idea is to post alternative posts on weekends.

    Couldn’t find any dog movies, but this one is interesting because I’ve always wondered if they don’t fall when they fly

    And here you have a woman who is not afraid of a fight at all, what a lion 😶

    Or this one when God’s hand rests upon you, some are lucky and others are even luckier.

    Or this 🤣🤣🤣

    And this one – talk about farm chaos hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

     

     

    2. MatsExtrude

      Before I watch the movies, I have to give a piece of advice before I forget it. Make sure to order a couple of nice sports cars already now, it feels good to give yourself appreciative gifts and it will properly motivate you in your continued work towards wealth and fame!

        1. Umlaut

          I’m in Tbilisi. 😄 And 40%. Mildiani may have been available at Systembolaget in the order assortment as their wines have been available before. I can highly recommend ArArAt, something even the good Winston Churchill did.

          3. CB500four

            Bought a bottle of Ararat when I was in Armenia on a business trip a number of years ago. That bottle didn’t get old in the cupboard.

  63. MatsExtrude

    The Left Party probably got a little nervous when they heard that Mossad was on site and participating in the Friday party.

    “Member of Parliament Lorena Delgado Varas (V) is urged to leave her political assignments, reports Swedish Radio Ekot. It is said to be the party secretary who has urged her to leave.”
    https://omni.se/a/dR1531

    2. Lasse W

      No Palestine activists on our streets, I was about to say. But Nooshi has already started to adapt V to the Social Democrats before the election next year.

      1. johan No.1

        I have noticed that the Time Team is almost giving an open goal and that the opposition has started to seriously shape up.

        I think it could be difficult for the Time Team to recover from this, and then we would have needed at least one more term to sort out the worst of what has been neglected.

        But… we live in a democracy and life goes on.

  65. johan No.1

    Unfortunately, Golda Meir and Munuto’s children had to cancel, they are stuck in traffic.
    But Mossad apparently has the situation under control for the evening anyway – they want to learn about Friday night drinking 😳

  66. Lasse W

    Synd what concerns Golda and Munuto. The Friday intoxication is ingrained in the people’s soul. Work hard during the week and then let loose on Friday.

  67. Kaitsetahe

    Aah!! Finally, FredagsFylla(TM)!!
    I’ve had tax office chaos… it’s supposed to be declared today!! So, I had forgotten about that.. and of course: TOTAL CHAOS!!! Especially since a bunch (3!) K5 were involved… AND the broker who promised to help me… didn’t do it and had written WRONG numbers in the forms that were sent to me….
    Swore like a trooper and the dog was hiding under the couch shaking…. Crying fits and had to be comforted by Chat GPT….
    Had to call the tax office because I had filled in wrong…. sweating and more crying fits…
    But now the declaration is submitted, and hopefully all the forms are correct….
    So nice with a little Friday buzz… I’ve poured myself a strong one.. juice… Of course you can get tipsy on juice!! You just haven’t tried it!

      2. Fram i Natten

        Can you postpone a Friday binge drinking session?
        Maybe. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday. It doesn’t matter. The beer tastes just as good 24/7 🍻.

  68. Westley Richard

    “A clear message to the Syrian regime.” That’s what the Israeli government calls the new airstrikes carried out very close to the presidential palace in Damascus.

    Israel’s attacks come in response to over 100 people being killed in sectarian violence outside Syria’s capital in recent days. A majority of the victims belonged to the minority Druze group.
    “This is a clear message to the Syrian regime,” write Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz in a joint press release. “We will not allow forces to be deployed south of Damascus or any form of threat against the Druze.”
    According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and several other sources, the clashes in the area are between Druze and armed groups linked to the authorities.
    Previously, Katz had warned Syria’s Islamist government that Israel would intervene if measures were not taken to protect the Druze.
    The United States has also condemned the violence against the minority group.
    “The recent acts of violence and hateful rhetoric directed at members of the Druze community in Syria are reprehensible and unacceptable,” writes Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, according to media reports in Washington.

    https://tt.omni.se/israel-attack-tydligt-budskap-till-syrien/a/W0K9k2

    A clear statement from Israel, don’t mess with my Druze friend!

    A majority of the Druze want Israel to enter Syria and occupy the southwestern part.

     

    1. johan No.1

      When the rebels took over Syria in their blitz offensive, I never understood why the Christians and Alawites did not defend the area on the coast and the Druze down south.

      At the time, we probably wrote that it was only a matter of time before the ethnic cleansing would begin.

      The Alawites number a few million and they had a mountain range along the coast that was easily defensible – and they had the money and the materials. Christians, under half a million left, and the Druze around a million.

      Now Israel is trying to bomb away the ethnically cleansing rebels’ caravans and the world’s media is in a state of dissolution over it 🧐

      If Israel doesn’t stop this, it could be this year’s major bloodbath, but still I can’t understand why the groups didn’t engage in self-defense, is it only the Peshmerga and the Kurdish women who have a bit of fighting spirit in that country?

      1. Westley Richard

        It probably lacked international support to offer any resistance, the Alawites have no friends, Israel was busy with Gaza and Hezbollah. The Christians are scattered.
        Not entirely convinced that the new Syrian regime has the strength to go after the Druze if they receive support from Israel. They have too many trouble spots in the country that they should focus on.

    2. MatsExtrude

      Imagine if Europe’s leaders had 2% of the potential violence capital of cats!
      Putin would have been lying in his bunker trembling with a light blue blanket over him while sucking on an empty caviar tube.

  81. MatsExtrude

    Ah, disappointed with SMHI. They promised 25 meters per second and I thought that now damn it, I will finally try to experience what it’s like with a real storm. I’ve been standing on the roof ridge lashed to the chimney for hours to feel both how it was for the captain and Stranne the younger. I’ve been shouting: “And the captain rose He was gray he was worn The storm barely howled, one could hardly hear his words When he said with a trembling voice to his host – Karl stood lashed and was forgotten on board.” But there is no wind blowing and now the neighbors have called the police… 🤷🏻‍♂️

    2. MatsExtrude

      Damn lucky that one of the police officers was from the older guard. He kept going on about Taube and we ended up in a discussion about whether it’s called “sviktande stompar” or “stumpar.”
      I think the old man is right, that Taube sings about “stumpar” and not “stompar” like Thåström insists on. Well, at least I didn’t have to go to the station when I agreed with him.

      1. johan No.1

        Don’t let your guard down – if someone in a lab coat knocks on your door early tomorrow morning, for God’s sake, don’t sneak out the back door 👍

        1. MatsExtrude

          Oh, I will open the door and start discussing imaginary spacetime, event horizons, and which infinities are more infinite than others until they begin to doubt if they are really there on my porch or not.
          Then I will offer soothing chamomile tea with honey and comfort them before sending them home.

    2. MatsExtrude

      From what I understand, you have a family, right?
      I’m sure they would each get a cap and wear it as long as they suspect that you see it.

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