Trump Again Criticizes Zelenskyy While Blaming Him, Biden, and Putin for Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump once again turned on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, blaming him alongside predecessor Joe Biden, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trump's latest statements began in a post on Truth Social. "The War between Russia and Ukraine is Biden’s war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, had no problem in preventing it from happening," Trump said. "President Zelenskyy and Crooked Joe Biden did an absolutely horrible job in allowing this travesty to begin," he added.
Trump's renewed ire towards Zelenskyy appeared to be motivated by an interview given to CBS' "60 Minutes" by the Ukrainian leader over the weekend. Zelenskyy accused some U.S. officials of falling prey to Russian disinformation and called on Trump to visit Ukraine prior to taking any further decisions on the conflict.
Pro-Trump narrative
President Trump is not responsible for the start of the war and in fact, under his watch, it would never have happened. It was the reckless policies of Biden and Zelenskyy that got us to this point, but now that we're here, Trump is focused on finding a peace deal so that the unnecessary killing comes to an end.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump's assertions about the war couldn't be further from the truth. Putin is the sole person responsible for starting this conflict after ordering his tanks to invade the country's neighbor without provocation.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by December 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: Europe's 2024 Floods Were the Most Widespread Flood Events in Over a Decade
A report from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization claims that in 2024, Europe experienced its most extensive flooding since 2013, affecting 413,000 people and causing 335 deaths across the continent.
The devastating floods in Valencia, Spain, in October 2024 became the year's deadliest weather-related event, claiming 232 lives after receiving 500 mm (19.6 inches) of rain in just eight hours, an event made 50 to 300 times more likely by human-caused climate change.
Storm Boris in September 2024 triggered catastrophic flooding across eight Central and Eastern European countries. The report suggests that climate change significantly increased both the likelihood and intensity of the flooding.
Climate activist narrative
The catastrophic weather events of 2024 demonstrate the urgent need to accelerate climate action and phase out fossil fuels completely. The continued use of fossil fuels in such a volatile global economy is dangerous, and the mounting evidence of climate-related disasters proves that immediate action is required to prevent further devastation.
Climate-concerned narrative
While progress is being made with 51% of European cities now having climate adaptation plans, the focus should be on building greater resilience rather than rushing to eliminate fossil fuels. The transition to renewable energy must be balanced with practical adaptation measures, as both power generation and electricity demand remain highly sensitive to weather conditions.
Climate-skeptic narrative
President Trump's "Drill, baby, drill" policy and withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement have dramatically increased American energy security. With the science far from settled, the US is leading the way towards a more responsible future with its relationship with energy — unhindered by questionable scientific findings. The rest of the world can follow suit from this example.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that 2025 be the warmest year on record globally per the ECMWF, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Vance Claims 'Good Chance' of US-UK Trade Deal, Warns Europe Not to be America's 'Vassal'
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance claimed in an interview with UnHerd on Tuesday that there was a "good chance" of a trade deal between the U.S. and the U.K., claiming the two governments were "working very hard" and that "the [U.S.] President really loves the United Kingdom."
Vance has previously criticized alleged free speech violations in the U.K., as well as clarified comments on a U.K.-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine. While rejecting Vance's claims, Starmer has since stated that talks involved questioning "how technology impacts free speech."
In 2024, the U.S. saw a $235.6 billion trade deficit with the European Union (EU), up 12.9% from 2023, while the U.S. saw an $11.9 billion surplus with the U.K. in 2024, a 17.4% increase from the year prior.
Pro-Trump narrative
The U.S. has a vested interest in European success, but its relationship must be as a partner instead of a master that has underwritten peace and prosperity for decades. While the road to a U.K. trade deal remains easier than with other European allies, the message to the entire continent is clear relationships must be reciprocal, and the era of freeloading is over.
Pro-Europe narrative
Rather than chasing a desperate alliance with Trump’s America, Europe must unite amid economic and geopolitical instability. Trump’s erratic tariffs prove the U.S. is an unreliable partner, meaning EU-U.K. cooperation is the continent's best option. Together, Europe has the economic strength to finally stand up to Washington.
Nerd narrative
There is a 5% chance that U.S. and the EU – or one of its member states – cut diplomatic ties before 2051, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Kenya: Ant Smugglers Caught With 5K Live Prized Insects
A Nairobi court has adjourned until April 23 the sentencing of four men — two from Belgium, one from Vietnam, and one from Kenya — who pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession and trafficking of live wildlife out of Kenya in what conservation officials are calling the country's first major biopiracy case.
The accused were arrested on April 5 after authorities discovered approximately 5,000 queen ants concealed in 2,244 specially modified test tubes and syringes at various locations in Kenya.
The suspects were apprehended in a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya Airports Police Unit, and other agencies.
Narrative A
The smuggling operation shows a sophisticated and well-planned criminal enterprise targeting Kenya's biodiversity, undermining sovereign rights, and depriving local communities of potential ecological and economic benefits. The case highlights an alarming trend in wildlife trafficking, shifting from large mammals to smaller, ecologically critical species — even insects.
Narrative B
The street value and growing demand in international markets make ant trade an increasingly lucrative illegal trade. The species is in high demand among collectors who appreciate its unique characteristics. Such activities will continue until the KWS imposes a complete ban on keeping rare ants as pets.
Nerd narrative
There's a 24.1% chance that space-based technologies will facilitate the creation of an effective global system for tracking and mitigating illegal wildlife trade before 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Russia's Reported Indonesia Base Request Sparks Australian Concerns
Military website Janes reported that Moscow officially requested permission to base Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft at Indonesia's Manuhua Air Force Base in Papua, approximately 1,300 kilometers from Darwin, Australia.
The reported request followed a February meeting between Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, though specific aircraft types were not detailed in the request.
Indonesia and Russia have strengthened military ties recently, conducting their first bilateral naval exercise in November 2024, following President Prabowo Subianto's election.
Narrative A
The potential Russian military presence in Indonesia would pose a dangerous and serious strategic threat to Australia's northern defense perimeter, enabling surveillance of US-Australian military activities and compromising regional security arrangements.
Narrative B
Indonesia maintains its commitment to non-alignment and the constitutional prohibition of foreign military bases while continuing to develop balanced relationships with various international partners through defense cooperation and joint exercises. Australia has no need for concern.
Nerd narrative
There is a 8.5% likelihood there will be a US-Russia war before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Zuckerberg Testifies in Meta Antitrust Trial
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's landmark antitrust trial against Meta began Monday, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg taking the stand as the first witness in a case that could potentially force the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC alleges that Meta illegally maintained a monopoly by acquiring Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014. The government claims this effectively neutralized potential competitors.
Under oath Monday, Zuckerberg was asked about emails he sent about Instagram's growth and Meta being "so far behind" that it didn't "understand" the gap. He defended his words by saying they were part of early conversations about buying the app and that Meta has improved Instagram.
Narrative A
Meta has transformed Instagram and WhatsApp into better, more secure services through billions in investment despite operating in a highly competitive market where consumers freely choose between multiple platforms. This makes the FTC's case an unprecedented attempt to punish American innovation and success.
Narrative B
Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp represent clear evidence of its strategy to eliminate competition through a "buy or bury" approach. Internal communications show Zuckerberg's intent to neutralize competitive threats and buy time to maintain market dominance.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the U.S. will break up Meta Platforms by at least December 1, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: Hamas Rejects Israeli Proposal for Temporary Ceasefire
Hamas has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the group's disarmament. Hamas has said that it will only agree to a deal that includes commitments that Israel will end the war and withdraw from Gaza.
Hamas has said that both parties should stick to the ceasefire framework agreed to in January. Israel has repeatedly said that it will not end the war until Hamas has been destroyed. Around 24 out of 58 remaining hostages are presumed to be alive.
Hamas said on Tuesday that it had lost contact with the team responsible for guarding U.S.-Israeli captive Edan Alexander after "direct Israeli bombardment" of their location, accusing Israel of trying to kill him. Hamas released a video of Alexander over the weekend, which was likely filmed last week.
Pro-establishment narrative
The return to war will not save the hostages. Furthermore, Israel's policy of blocking aid from entering Gaza is creating widespread starvation across the strip. Both sides need to make concessions so that the ceasefire can be fully implemented and the hostages are returned.
Pro-Israel narrative
Hamas got two weeks of a ceasefire for free as it refused to release additional hostages, making a return to war inevitable. Though the media have uncritically parroted Hamas propaganda regarding civilian casualties, the reality is Israel is targeting senior Hamas officials and the terror group's military infrastructure, which is embedded in civilian areas. If Palestinians in Gaza want the war to end, they should force Hamas to release the hostages.
Pro-Palestine narrative
It should be clear after over a year of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. Indeed, starvation is an integral part of Israel's genocidal campaign. Children are on the verge of starving to death in their mothers' arms, yet the United States and international community have failed to end this travesty.
Report: OpenAI Building X-Like Social Network
The Verge reported on Tuesday that OpenAI is developing a social network platform with an internal prototype that focuses on ChatGPT's image-generation capabilities and includes a social feed.
The social platform would provide OpenAI with valuable real-time user data for artificial intelligence (AI) model training, similar to how X (formerly Twitter) powers Elon Musk's Grok and Meta uses its user data to train Llama.
While CEO Sam Altman is reportedly seeking feedback from external sources, it remains unclear whether the platform will launch as a standalone app or integrate into ChatGPT.
Narrative A
OpenAI's reported social network venture is a strategic move to gain independence in data collection, reduce reliance on other platforms for AI training, and challenge established social media giants with AI-enhanced features.
Narrative B
This potential development could further fragment the social media landscape and intensify the ongoing rivalry between tech giants, potentially compromising OpenAI's original mission of developing AI for humanity's benefit rather than corporate competition.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that OpenAI will reach its profit cap for the first round of investors by 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Reaffirms Intention to Send 'Homegrown Criminals' to El Salvador
US President Donald Trump said in an upcoming interview with Rachel Campos-Duffy of Spanish-language broadcast Fox NotÃcias that his administration is "looking into [...] and would love to" send violent American criminals to prison in El Salvador.
The clip of the exclusive exchange in which Trump talked about the plan was aired on Fox News on Tuesday, and the complete interview is set to be aired in two parts at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This comes as Trump floated the idea twice in a bilateral meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the Oval Office on Monday, suggesting that Bukele should "build about five more" prisons to make room for U.S. "homegrown criminals" and confirming to reporters that he was "all for" sending U.S. citizens to El Salvador.
Democratic narrative
While a plan to exile U.S. citizens, even if they are all convicted criminals or if that only applies to naturalized individuals, is obviously unconstitutional, the Trump administration has already carried out illegal deportations to El Salvador — so it's very prudent to take these remarks seriously. It's time for courts to intervene before American citizens are removed from the country.
Republican narrative
The Trump administration is looking into this idea to address crime from all over the country and will go through with it only if the law allows — especially because no one wants to create a precedent that could be disastrous in the hands of Democrats. It's likely that the proposal will focus on denaturalizing and stripping citizenship from violent criminals despite hysteria from the left.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that Donald Trump be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.