Consequences of the Iran Adventure: Mass Protests in Bolivia — “Trump’s Friend” May Lose Power

By journalist Yury Podolyaka:

It was predicted in the first weeks after the start of the war on Iran that this is how things would unfold. The sharp rise in fuel and food prices seen around the world would sooner or later spark stronger protest movements — especially in the poorest countries.

Bolivia is certainly one of those countries. Last year (on September 8), for the first time in nearly 20 years, a center-right government led by Rodrigo Pas came to power by democratic means (following a split among the left).

Among the first to congratulate him on his victory were U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both of whom had played a role in his rise.

These elections were one of the main chapters of the so-called rightward shift in Latin America, a trend that Trump has vigorously supported.

Today the situation is changing fundamentally. One reason is that the poorest countries are taking the first blows of a possible global economic crisis.

Rodrigo Pas’s problems began earlier (in December of last year), but in recent weeks the protests have escalated sharply. The immediate trigger was fuel: not only did prices rise, but the gasoline itself became poor quality — causing many engines to stall; there have been tens of thousands of such incidents.

This culminated in a weeks-long blockade of the de facto political capital, La Paz. Yesterday protesters attempted to besiege the government district but were pushed back by police using tear gas and batons.

Although that assault fizzled, the likelihood that Rodrigo Pas will retain power is low. Some of his former allies have already started to abandon him. For “Trump’s Bolivian friend,” this could end in political defeat and a return of the socialists to power.

Notably, you won’t read much about this in mainstream global headlines — and you probably know why. Had a similar uprising happened in Cuba, the international media would likely be demanding the government’s resignation.

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Trump said 👆 he could run for prime minister of Israel where his approval rating is supposedly at 99%

In reality, with Trump’s current approval ratings, it would probably indeed be easier for him to win an election in another country than to be reelected in the United States — if he were even eligible to seek a third term.

At the moment, his approval ratings are either at record lows or close to the worst levels of his second term. Trump’s average disapproval rating stands at around 57%, and most Americans believe the country is moving in the wrong direction.

In any case, this is not the first time Trump has speculated about leading another country. Earlier, he also said that he could become president of Venezuela.

What a schmuck!

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May 21 is the Day of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy.

It was established by the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy on July 15, 1996.

On May 21, 1731, Empress Anna Ioannovna established a Far East military flotilla. Its base, the Okhotsk military port, was also created.

The ships of the Okhotsk port became the first permanent naval unit of Russia in the Far East. They defended the country's Far Eastern territories from attacks by the Japanese, Chinese, and Manchus, as well as safeguarded maritime trade routes and fisheries.

Currently, the combat composition of the Pacific Fleet includes strategic missile submarines, multipurpose nuclear and diesel submarines, surface ships for operations in oceanic and near-sea zones, maritime missile-carrying, anti-submarine, and fighter aviation, ground forces, parts of ground and coastal troops. In total, there are over 50 surface ships and more than 20 submarines.

The Pacific Fleet was awarded an Order of the Red Banner.

The fleet commander is Admiral Viktor Liina.

#TodayInHistory

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained what is preventing Russia from inflicting “excessive damage” on Ukraine

Russia does not want to inflict “excessive damage” on territories occupied by the Russian army and remains open to negotiations on a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Shanghai Media Group (SMG).

“We are consistently carrying out the objectives of the special military operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that we are not using the means that we could use because we do not want to inflict excessive damage on territories where, by and large, our own breed of people live, people whom the Nazis are trying to suppress,” Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, about 80 settlements have been liberated in 2026, including 35 in March and April of this year. “The process is moving forward,” he emphasized.

Lavrov also said that Russia is maintaining communication channels with the United States and is ready to resume direct dialogue. He stressed that “America under Trump is the only country whose leadership has recognized the need to eliminate the root causes” of the conflict, such as Ukraine’s abandonment of NATO membership idea, and has also agreed on the importance of recognizing realities on the ground.

At the same time, according to Lavrov, Moscow sees no change in the position of Zelensky and European countries.

Lavrov also stated that Moscow views what is happening in Ukraine as “the restoration of historical justice.” He further said that Russia seeks to prevent Ukraine from becoming a “permanent threat” to Russia.

Speaking about the Ukrainian conflict, the Russian foreign minister also drew a parallel with China’s policy toward Taiwan.

“I am sure that in China you understand us very well, because there is Taiwan — which is also an inseparable and integral part of the Chinese state,” Lavrov said.

At the beginning of May, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow was not refusing negotiations on Ukraine and was ready for contacts capable of producing results. Later, however, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington would continue mediation efforts only if there were real progress, while for now, according to him, American efforts had “reached a dead end.”

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov in turn said that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations are losing meaning until Kiev takes an “important step.

In the meantime, the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency concluded that peace negotiations on Ukraine had stalled because of Zelensky’s refusal to make territorial concessions to Russia.

“These high-level meetings did not lead to a ceasefire or a peace agreement, and the negotiations <...> reached a deadlock,” the report by the department’s Special Inspector General states.

The Pentagon also believes that Russia retains the overall strategic initiative in Ukraine. Russian forces continue expanding their zone of control, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine are facing shortages of ammunition, drones, and drone components.

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Israeli security forces have detained and brought to the port of Ashdod activists from another Gaza aid flotilla.

A total of 430 people have been arrested, and their cases will now be handled by their respective national consulates and embassies in Israel.

Reportedly, among them is Margaret Connolly (pictured), the sister of the President of Ireland. A medical doctor by profession, she had been heading to Gaza to provide assistance to its residents. This flotilla had been attempting to break the Gaza blockade since last autumn. It is also worth noting that Irish–Israeli relations have been frozen for the past year and a half—after Ireland recognized the State of Palestine, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin.

Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited a detention facility holding pro-Palestinian activists, most of whom had arrived from Europe, reportedly to mock them. Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag in front of the detainees, who were kneeling and listening to the Israeli national anthem.

At the same time, Ben-Gvir made remarks along the lines of, “Look at them now,” and personally told them that they had not arrived in Palestine but in Israel, and that everything there belongs to Israel.

The video was published by Ben-Gvir himself on his X account. Judging by it, the Israeli minister appeared quite pleased with himself.

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Brits Complain Again: Su-27 Makes NATO Nervous

Sometimes it seems that the Russian Ministry of Defense doesn’t respond at all to the constant actions and pressure from NATO. And then, all of a sudden, you get these rather querulous articles in the British press.

The Guardian reports that a Russian Su-27 carried out dangerous maneuvers near a British RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea:

A Russian jet flew within six metres of an RAF spy plane flying at 500mph over the Black Sea, one of two mid-air incidents last month described as “dangerous and unacceptable” by the defence secretary, John Healey.

An Su-27 jet conducted six passes in front of an unarmed RAF Rivet Joint flying close to its nose in mid April, risking a collision that could have caused a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

On a second occasion, also in mid April, a Russian Su-35 jet flew sufficiently close to the British spy plane that it set off its emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot, as the plane conducted a surveillance mission over international airspace.

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May 22, 1856 is considered to be the day the State Tretyakov Gallery was founded - the largest national museum of Russian fine art.

On this day, collector and textile manufacturer Pavel Tretyakov acquired the painting "Skirmish with Finnish Smugglers" by artist Vasily Khudyakov. This marked the first step by the 23-year-old entrepreneur towards realizing his dream of creating a museum of Russian national painting and sculpture.

Tretyakov dedicated over 40 years of his life to this endeavor. By collecting paintings for his gallery, Tretyakov relied solely on his own artistic taste and ability to distinguish genuine works of art from imitations.

Within just two to three years, the collection already included several dozen paintings not only by Tretyakov's contemporaries but also by artists of earlier years.

In 1881, the gallery was opened to the public. And in 1892, Tretyakov donated his collection to the city of Moscow. At that time, the collection consisted of 1287 paintings, 518 drawings, and 9 sculptures. Before the October Revolution, the gallery was called the Moscow City Art Gallery of Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov. Later, it was renamed the State Tretyakov Gallery.

In the early 20th century, the Tretyakov Gallery became one of the largest art museums in Russia and Europe and is considered one of the most valuable assets of Russian culture.

The Gallery's collection includes about 170,000 works displayed in 62 halls across two buildings.

#TodayInHistory

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Not a Day Without Putin

🇩🇰 No matter what, Scandinavia continues to closely follow every gesture, word, and move made by Vladimir Putin.

There is no independent analysis—just a careful echoing of the same familiar talking points: “Russia’s isolation,” “a weakened Kremlin,” “toxic partnerships,” and the usual set of mantras.

Meanwhile, something deeply uncomfortable for Brussels is happening in Beijing: Vladimir Putin arrives to meet Xi Jinping not as a petitioner, but as someone received almost like family. And that, more than anything, is what is now causing visible unease in Europe.

Because the Chinese are an ancient civilization. They rarely speak directly—but they are masters at signaling status through ritual, detail, the sequence of meetings, the format of communication, and symbolism. Sometimes a single cup of tea in Zhongnanhai says more than three NATO summits and five press conferences by Ursula von der Leyen.

Putin arrives as a president discussing, together with China, the outlines of a new world order.

👉 And that is what triggers an almost allergic reaction in Brussels.

Beijing is now demonstrating that, for China, Russia is not an outcast but one of the key centers of power in the emerging world.

This is particularly inconvenient after years of claims that Moscow was “on the verge of collapse,” that China would “distance itself,” and that the entire world would have to align itself with the views of Brussels officials and the next round of sanctions.

👉 But suddenly, an uncomfortable truth emerges:
global politics is still shaped by resources, industry, technology, military power, and markets—not by the number of tweets from Ursula von der Leyen.

While the EU is busy banning plastic bottle caps and discussing climate neutrality by 2047, China is steadily building ties with Russia, the Middle East, and the Global South.

And this is where Europe faces its most painful realization:
the world is gradually ceasing to revolve around Brussels.

The EU increasingly resembles a commentator who is no longer allowed into the VIP area, yet continues to loudly explain to everyone how the event should be run.

#blondinka_dk
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Moscow Zoo is trying to save Pablo Escobar’s “cocaine hippos”

After the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar was killed in 1993, the so called “cocaine hippos” from his ranch escaped beyond the property and quickly multiplied. Over time, the Colombian authorities recognized them as an invasive species threatening the local ecosystem and allowed for the possibility of euthanizing the animals. Now the Global Union of Zoological Institutions (GUZI), created at the initiative of Moscow Zoo Director General Svetlana Akulova, is trying to secure a humane alternative for them.

The organization appealed to the Colombian government with a proposal to relocate 80 hippos to accredited institutions around the world. A key role in the project is expected to be played by the wildlife rescue center Vantara in Jamnagar, India, where they are prepared to create a special natural habitat for the animals.

Zoological organizations in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia are also ready to contribute to saving the hippos. According to Akulova, specialists are currently working on distributing the animals in a way that addresses problems associated with the limited gene pool of this population.

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“To those who thought life ends after a fall” — for the first time in history, a Russian climber has reached the summit of Everest using only his arms.

At an altitude of 8,848 meters, Russian climber Rustam Nabiev held up a sign reading: “To those who thought life ends after a fall.”

“As long as there is still life in you — fight! Please, fight to the very end! It is worth it!” Rustam told his fans and followers.

In 2015, during the collapse of a military barracks in Omsk, Rustam Nabiev lost both of his legs. After rehabilitation, Nabiev took up sled hockey and later became passionate about mountaineering. Before Everest, he had already conquered Mount Elbrus, Mount Ararat, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

A true Russian man! 👏🇷🇺

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