"If people did not love one another, I really don't see what use there would be in having any spring."

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday their two countries should be "friends of steel", as they pledged to raise cooperation to a new level and "decisively" counter the influence of the United States.

At talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders cast themselves as defenders of a new world order no longer dominated by the U.S.
In a lengthy joint statement, they said they would deepen relations in all areas, including military ties, and "strengthen coordination in order to decisively counter Washington's course of 'dual containment' of Russia and China".

The two countries said the Ukraine conflict could only be settled by removing its "root causes" - a phrase that Russia has frequently used when arguing that it was forced to go to war to prevent the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO.

Xi is the most powerful of more than two dozen foreign leaders who are visiting Moscow this week to mark Thursday's 80th anniversary of the end of World War11.

Africa Can Arise and Use Its Resources for Development-
"No more waiting. No more pleading. Africa, stand tall, build strong, and shine brighter than ever before!"
By Jo Ikeji-Uju
https://afriprime.net/page...

Africa Can Arise and Use Its Resources for Development-
"Our lands are rich, our people are richer. Let Africa arise not just in wealth — but in wisdom, unity, and power!"
By Jo Ikeji-Uju
https://afriprime.net/page...

The economic friction between the U.S. and China just reached a boiling point. Last month, the U.S. slapped a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, and China has responded with a 125% tariff on American goods.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, warned that prolonged trade tensions are pushing global companies to shift supply chains away from China—permanently.

"That cake is already baked," he wrote April 26 on X, referring to the irreversible decisions companies are making to exit China.
Tariffs Stack Up And Ships Slow Down.
Global Supply Chains Find New Homes
As companies scramble to minimize exposure, Ackman argued the longer the tariffs persist, "the more rapidly every company that has a supply chain based in China relocates it." He pointed to India, Vietnam, Mexico, and the U.S. as new manufacturing hubs for both U.S. and non-U.S. firms.

A three-day ceasefire in Ukraine that was unilaterally declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month has come into effect, as Russia prepares to mark the anniversary of its World War II Victory Day on Friday.

Within three hours, Ukraine’s air force had claimed Russia had launched guided bombs over Sumy in the north of Ukraine.

A statement from the Kremlin last month said that Putin ordered “all military actions” in Ukraine to be suspended from midnight May 8 to midnight May 11 based on “humanitarian considerations.”
Kyiv rejected the short-term truce when it was first announced. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called Putin’s announcement a “theatrical performance” and reiterated his country’s support for an earlier US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire which Russia has rejected.

The three-day period Putin picked for the ceasefire coincides with Russia’s World War II Victory Day commemorations, including a traditional military parade set for Friday, May 9.

Taiwan and Europe face the same threat from authoritarianism, President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday, marking 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe and warning that indulging aggressors only whets their appetite for expansion.

Taiwan has faced increased military pressure from China, including war games, as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims over the democratically-governed island, and has sought joint cause with Europe from the risk it faces from Russia.

Speaking to an audience including European, British, Japanese, Canadian and U.S. diplomats based in Taiwan, Lai said Taiwan shares the same values as many of the democracies who fought in World War Two.
"At many points in history, people have thought to give the aggressor a small concession to earn peace," Lai said

"But as we all know from the painful lessons of World War Two, indulging aggressors with a taste of expansion only whets their appetite; it makes them more confident and hungrier for more."

One day of waiting over: Vatican visitors share hopes as conclave marches on...
First there was a cheer, then a rush to leave St Peter’s Square. No one had thought a pope would be elected on the first day of the conclave but most had expected to be home for dinner.

The black smoke finally emerged from the chimney installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel at 9pm, more than two hours later than expected. It was the end of a long day, with maybe a few more ahead, but the faithful were undeterred. Many had waited most of the afternoon and well into the evening, watching the opening ceremonials of the conclave to elect the 267th pope on large screens.

The chimney, connected by a flue to the stove where the first ballots cast were consumed by flames, was sometimes hard to see as rays from the sinking sun half-blinded the smoke-watchers’ eyes, causing much squinting and shielding.

"We don't ask a flower any special reason for its existence. We just look at it and are able to accept it as being something different for ourselves."

https://afriprime.net/blog...

"Spring won't let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again."

"Happiness? The color of it must be spring green."

An Iranian terror attack was hours away from being launched on British soil.
Five men, including four Iranian nationals, were arrested at locations across England Home Secretary described as one of the biggest counter-terror operations in recent years.

It is understood that authorities feared the attack on a “specific premises” was imminent.
Counter-terror police arrested a further three Iranian men in London as part of a separate operation, fearing they would leave the UK or destroy critical evidence against them after the other raids.
They were arrested under powers granted by the National Security Act, which allows officers to make arrests if they reasonably suspect individuals of being involved in “foreign power threat activity”.

Target may have been a synagogue or another target linked to the Jewish community.
“These were two major operations that reflect some of the biggest counter-state threats and counter terrorism operations that we have seen in recent years.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin again raised the specter of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, in a state film broadcast Sunday. A day earlier, Kyiv said it shot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets over the Black Sea using modified U.S.-made missiles fired from Ukrainian sea drones. As Russia intensifies its airstrikes on Ukraine, Kyiv is getting at least one more U.S. Patriot air-defense system.
One Patriot system is being moved to Ukraine from Israel after refurbishment and "Western allies are discussing the logistics of Germany or Greece giving another one," the Times said. President Donald Trump's "public remarks on the war have softened in favor of Ukraine," but a former White House official said the "Biden administration had secured the agreement with Israel in September."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late Saturday called Ukrainian intelligence's first-ever downing of a Russian warplane from a marine drone "brilliant" and "a testament to Ukraine's capabilities."

The premier of Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta said Monday she will hold a referendum on separation from Canada next year if a citizen-led petition reaches the required number of signatures.

Speaking on a livestream address, Danielle Smith said she personally does not support the province leaving Canada and expressed hope of a “path forward” for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.

“Should Ottawa, for whatever reason, continue to attack our province as they have done over the last decade, ultimately that will be for Albertans to decide," she said. "I will accept their judgement.”

Smith’s announcement comes just one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal Party to a fourth consecutive federal government. It also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada with tariffs and talk of the country becoming the 51st state.

Donald Trump is being blasted for his plans to reopen Alcatraz, with experts saying it will cost millions and years of work to make it a modern, functional prison.

That is if he envisions getting to that level.
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” President Trump bellowed on Truth Social Sunday evening in a post in which he lambasted criminals and “the dregs of society” for being in America “for too long.”
The U.S. president told reporters on Sunday that the idea came from his frustration at “radicalized judges” accused of slowing down his deportations.

But former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat whose district includes the island, questioned the feasibility of reopening the prison after so many years. "It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President's proposal is not a serious one,"
Scott Wiener, a Democratic state senator said: “Putting aside that Alcatraz is a museum & tourist attraction, this is both nuts & terrifying.”

Harvard University will receive no new federal grants until it meets a series of demands from President Donald Trump’s administration, the Education Department announced Monday.

The action was laid out in a letter to Harvard’s president and amounts to a major escalation of Trump’s battle with the Ivy League school. Administration previously froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, and Trump is pushing to strip the school of its tax-

Harvard has pushed back on the administration's demands, setting up a closely watched clash in Trump's attempt to force change at universities that he says have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.

In a press call, an Education Department official said Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it “demonstrates responsible management of the university” and satisfies federal demands on a range of subjects. The ban applies to federal research grants and not to federal financial aid that helps students cover college tuition and

In the hardest moments of our lives, God is fighting for us.
Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

In the pain, Christ is gain! (Cheesy but true!)
Philippians 3:8: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Our suffering isn’t meaningless.
2 Corinthians 4:17: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”

God brings us a comfort like no one else can.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen announced on Sunday evening that they will impose comprehensive air blockade on Israel, in what they said was a response to the Israeli government's decision to expand its war on Hamas in Gaza.

In a statement broadcast by its media outlets, Houthi spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree called on international airlines to take the warning seriously to "preserve the safety of their travellers", saying that the decision came into effect immediately.

Sareei said, "We will impose the siege by repeatedly targeting Israeli airports, especially (Ben Gurion) International Airport near Tel Aviv."

The announcement followed the group's missile launch at Israel’s main international airport, which struck near an access road, causing panic among passengers.

Israel intends to respond to the Houthi attack on its international airport not only against the Yemeni militia itself, but also against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.

"Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters," Netanyahu said in a post on social media platform X.

Iran and Israel came dangerously close to an all-out war last year, with both countries carrying out aerial strikes on each other, raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Eight people were injured on Sunday when Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv on Sunday. The Israeli military confirmed an impact near the airport.

As financial markets pin their hopes on a de-escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, some experts caution that meaningful progress in striking a deal between the world's two largest economies may still be some way off.

"Either tariffs are cut to more palatable levels or both sides put more exclusions on the table to make tariffs effectively less binding," Aidan Yao, Amundi's senior investment strategist for Asia, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum.

"For now, signs of these are sparse, presumably because the pain threshold has not been reached," Yao said, adding that the outlook for the Chinese economy still looks positive.
China recently said it was "evaluating" a U.S. proposal to resume trade talks over Washington's 145% tariffs. It has also created a list of U.S.-made products for exemption from its 125% retaliatory tariffs.

After a tumultuous year of working closely with Donald Trump, during which Tesla stock has crashed and public sentiment has turned against him, Elon Musk reflected on his time on the sidelines of power. Musk even revealed where it all went wrong.

“I’d seen videos of people streaming across the border on Twitter, now X, and I’m like, ‘Are these? Is this real?’” Musk said, referring to the decontextualized and unverifiable clickbait that dominates the social media platform he now owns.
“So I said, I’m going to the border myself. So I went to Eagle Pass, Texas and, sure enough, people streaming across the border,” Musk claimed.

The Biden administration is actively aiding and abetting illegal immigration, because they are viewed as future voters
— Elon Musk (elonmusk)

The clips prompted the world’s richest man to embark on his takeover of Twitter, he said, arguing that the purchase was motivated by a desire to strip the platform of “censorship” and “let the marketplace of idea

Why should Catholic church issue such response? Trump didn't do or approve the image-by the way Trump is doing God's job better than these catholic and christian leaders.
Representatives for the Catholic church have issued a direct response to the president's polarizing photograph which depicts him as the next pope.

If you somehow managed to miss it, Donald Trump—and the official White House account—shared an AI-generated image on social media that imagined him wearing the Pontiff's religious robes, proving, as you might expect, to be a highly controversial move in between the death of Pope Francis and the declaration of his successor.

"There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President," the NYS Catholic Conference account, representing the Catholic Bishops of New York State, tweeted on Saturday, May 3. "We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us."

Beijing and Tokyo exchanged diplomatic protests after an unknown Japanese group flew a civilian plane over a disputed island in the East China Sea.

The Senkaku are a chain of five uninhabited islands and reefs in the East China Sea, located northeast of Taiwan and southwest of Okinawa. They are administered by Japan but claimed by both Taiwan and China, which calls them the Diaoyu islands.

The Chinese coastguard said they launched a helicopter to “expel” a Japanese civilian aircraft that had entered the airspace over the islands on Saturday morning.

The head of the Chinese foreign ministry’s Asian affairs department, Liu Jinsong, lodged a protest with the chief minister of Japan’s embassy, Yokochi Akira, over the alleged intrusion by “Japanese right-wing extremists piloting a civilian aircraft”.

India needs such action on Kashmir to have full control.
Israel approved plans Monday to capture the entire Gaza Strip and to stay in the Palestinian territory for an unspecified amount of time, two Israeli officials said, a move that, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel's operations there and likely draw fierce international opposition.

Israeli Cabinet ministers approved the plan in an early morning vote, hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.

The new plan, which the officials said was meant to help Israel achieve its war aims of defeating Hamas and freeing hostages held in Gaza, also calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to Gaza's south.

A third person, a defense official, said the new plan would not begin until after U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his expected visit to the Middle East this month, allowing for the possibility that Israel might agree to a ceasefire in the mean

Vietnam faces more challenges than opportunities because of U.S. tariffs but will still aim to meet its target of at least 8% growth this year, the Prime Minister said on Monday, ahead of the start of trade talks with Washington later this week.The Southeast Asian economy, which is heavily reliant on exports for growth, is facing a 46% tariff if a reduction cannot be negotiated before a U.S. moratorium expires in July.

"We have stayed calm and courageous and taken several appropriate measures," Pham Minh Chinh told parliament.

"Vietnam is among the first countries the U.S. has agreed to hold tariff negotiations with," he said, adding the first negotiation session will take place on Wednesday.

There is a possibility that Malaysia can negotiate a reduction in threatened U.S. tariffs as Washington has agreed to further talks, but the global trade war meant economic growth was likely to be below target this year, the Prime Minister said on Monday.

Malaysia is facing a 24% tariff rate in July for exports to the U.S., unless an agreement is struck between both countries.

"Although these are preliminary discussions... the United States government has agreed to further negotiate with Malaysia, and there is a possibility of reducing the reciprocal tariff imposed," Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament.

He said the suspension of most tariffs until July meant the impact was manageable for now, but said Malaysia was unlikely to meet its economic growth forecast of 4.5% to 5.5% this year.