The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates, taking the cash rate below 4 per cent for the first time in two years.

At its May meeting, the RBA's monetary policy board decided to decrease the cash rate by 0.25 of a percentage point, to 3.85 per cent.

Following the decision, the Australian dollar dropped from around 64.5 US cents to 64.2 US cents, as expectations of further interest rate cuts rose.

"With inflation expected to remain around target, the board therefore judged that an easing in monetary policy at this meeting was appropriate," the RBA board said in its statement.

France’s foreign intelligence service has denied claims that its director pressured Telegram founder Pavel Durov to censor political content on the messaging platform.

Durov claimed on Sunday that the government of a Western European country – which he hinted was France – had asked him to block conservative Romanian content on Telegram ahead of the country’s presidential runoff. After Paris denied involvement, Durov identified Nicolas Lerner, head of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), as the official behind the request.

PLANETARY MOTION WAS KNOWN WAY BEFORE GALILEO GOT SPANKED BY THE CHURCH FOR CLAIMING THE EARTH CYCLES AROUND THE SUN AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND... MUCH OF WHAT WAS KNOWN ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM HAD BEEN HIDDEN FROM VIEW — AND STILL IS, BECAUSE IT IS INCONVENIENT TO KNOW... 

SOME KNOWLEDGE IS HIDDEN BY FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRIES, FOXNEWS AND INGNORAMUSES — OR IS BADLY USED BY A FEW DISINGENUOUS PSEUDO-SCIENTISTS — TO PREVENT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESENT GLOBAL WARMING.

 

In times of age old professionalism, it was reasonable to make requests to leaders of powerful institutions and expect a reply, but in times unduly influenced by the alleged efficiency of managerialism, public interests and requests are too often ignored.

 

Stuart Rees

Inaccessible, indifferent, out of touch? A vice-chancellor’s non-response

 

That process and outcome occurred in relation to the ANU vice-chancellor’s non-replies to letters sent by speakers at a public meeting, “Vote for Humanity, Why Genocide is a Key Election Issue” held in a lecture theatre at the Australian National University on Sunday 27 March.

Just days before Donald Trump’s critical phone call with Vladimir Putin, top European leaders are racing to influence his approach amid growing fears that he may broker a peace deal favoring Moscow. Concerned that Ukraine’s core interests could be ignored, Berlin, Paris, and London are urgently coordinating with Trump to prevent any surprise settlement that could shift the balance of the war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7lfSKVE-A

 

Fearing a Backroom Deal, Europe Makes Last-Ditch Push to Influence Trump Before Putin Call

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

One of the more intriguing international stories in recent weeks was the report that Donald Trump, now back in the White House, is set to fly aboard a lavish Boeing 747-8 once owned by the Qatari royal family. While some media dismiss it as just another Trump indulgence, the real story is more revealing – and more political – than it first appears.

 

Made in America? Why Trump’s new jet has ‘Russian roots’ and a Qatari tail
Trump’s jet reveals the collapse of US aerospace prestige and rising Gulf influence

By Alexander Ermakov

 

A second man has been arrested in connection with suspected arson attacks on two properties in London and a vehicle linked to Keir Starmer, police have said.

Earlier this week, The New Yorker ran an excerpt from “Original Sin.” In that piece, Tapper and Thompson tell the story of George Clooney’s astonishing interaction with Biden at a Hollywood fund-raiser and how it prompted him to write a scathing Op-Ed in the Times calling on his longtime friend to step down.

President’s reduced cognitive powers pushed the country toward Donald Trump.
By David Remnick

 

 

Berlin has no plans to send Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev in the near future. This was announced on Thursday, May 15, by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"I am also discussing this issue with both chairmen of the parliamentary groups of the coalition. It is not on the agenda at the moment," he said on the ZDF TV channel.

According to the politician, this is due to "significant preparation."

Yesterday, James Comey caused quite the stir when he went on Instagram and posted a picture of a shell formation on the beach — obviously one he made — that spelled out “86 47,” which many interpreted as a threat on President Trump’s life.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Saturday for pressure to stop Israel's "massacre in Gaza" and said Madrid is planning to introduce a UN resolution requesting a world court ruling on aid access to the Palestinian territory.

“The stubbornness and stupidity of the Kiev regime and its sponsors makes me think that at least in the current stage, for as long as Zelensky remains illegally in power in Ukraine, there will be no real desire to achieve peace,” Argentinian geopolitical affairs analyst Christian Lamesa told Sputnik, commenting on the relaunch of the Istanbul peace process.

 

A new Cold War is unfolding, with China at its center, driven by escalating U.S. economic restrictions. Beginning under Donald Trump and intensified by Joe Biden, bans on advanced microchips aim to curb China’s tech ascent. In response, China has advanced “cloud capital” through platforms like WeChat, challenging U.S. control over global payments.

This digital finance innovation, paired with China's push for a sovereign digital currency, threatens the dollar's dominance. As U.S. deficits widen, the power struggle over technological and financial systems marks a pivotal shift in global influence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcb2PQ80va0

Yanis Varoufakis EXPLAINS How China Is Silently Defeating the U.S.

 

 

Damascus, SANA-President Bashar al-Assad gave an interview to France 2 TV. [2015]

Following is the full text;

Question 1: Good evening, Mr. President, I’d like to start straight forward. For most French, you are in a very large part responsible for the chaos going on in Syria, because of the brutality of the repression during the last four years. According to you, what is your part of responsibility?

Ancient Javanese mythology, often inherited from India and adapted to fit local culture, is rich with striking characters in the wayang kulit shadow puppet theatre. The fat-gut wise clown Semar is charged with maintaining stability.

 

Duncan Graham

Don’t stir Semar – He seeks harmony

 

This mirrors Anthony Albanese’s zip-in-and-out visit to Jakarta. The prime minister came with the doctrine, made famous by Paul Keating in 1994, to tell President Prabowo Subianto that “there is no country more important to Australia than Indonesia".