Trump takes a question from a Ukrainian reporter and asks her a series of questions about her life and about her husband, who she says is a Ukrainian soldier. He ends up saying he's going to "see" if he can make Patriot missiles available for Ukraine.

Yep. We just totally overreacted.

Numerous casualties reported after a suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria.

1/6 The Russia’s Economy Minister Reshetnikov just admitted the country is “on the verge of recession.” But economic decline is only half the story. Moscow’s geopolitical alliances are also unraveling, from Armenia and Syria to now even uncertainty with Iran.

This article details how Trump has sidelined two of his worst cabinet choices—Hegseth and Gabbard—during deliberations over Iran. Everyone knew they should never have been appointed. But Trump did it anyway and now it would be embarrassing to fire them. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Dans cet océan de tristesse qu'est le monde aujourd'hui, une bien triste nouvelle, celle de la mort d'Alfred #Brendel On ne peut plus écouter les #Impromptus de #Schubert sans que surgissent ses versions à la mémoire. Elles sont immortelles

(from the archives)

Everything about the Syrian president and his story is mind-boggling. Take this, for example:

Exactly 20 years ago today, he was captured by the Americans in Iraq and jailed.

Today he met (and impressed) the US president in Riyadh.

His life reads like a ready-made Hollywood script.

www.lemonde.fr/internationa...

C'est bien la première fois que je suis d'accord avec Donald #Trump #Syrie

#Syria: another attempt to smuggle weapons into Lebanon was thwarted by the Security forces.

Raid took place in area of Serghaya (near Zabadani, W. #Damascus).

For the first time, the shipment included an anti-drone weapon.

Pour la première fois depuis sa création en 2023, les enquêteurs de l'Institution indépendante des Nations Unies pour les personnes disparues ont pu accéder à la Syrie, après la chute du régime d'Assad.

« L’ampleur du problème est accablante… tout le monde connaît quelqu’un qui manque à l’appel »

C'est un risque politique & un pas de plus vers une levée plus importante des sanctions au profit des Syriens, mais aussi un gain diplo. pour la France qui est un acteur majeur du processus de stabilisation, ceci dans l'intérêt régional et européen www.bfmtv.com/internationa...

Exactly what #Putin is doing in #Russia schools.

We are choosing ignorance and poverty
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Quand le peuple prend la place du juge, c'est la vérité qu'on crucifie. Prédication du vendredi saint au temple saint Jean. espritdeliberte.leswoody.net/2025/04/18/l...

"Trump has an obvious weakness that makes America weak. He places the American economy at risk for the sake of a personal foible, a visible vulnerability."
snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-psy...

🇨🇳China accounts for 3/4 of US imports of smartphones & laptops.

🇺🇸Trump’s retention of 125% tariff on China will, on its own, significantly raise US prices & probably inflation expectations (though some offset from oil price weakness)

📉 it’s far from over
🤷‍♂️

www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...

Excellente et sarcastique tribune dans @lemonde.fr de Charles #Wyplosz sur la redécouverte "sans le savoir" par #Trump du mercantilisme dont la faillite a donné naissance à l'économie

Tribune de @firask.bsky.social sur l'extrême pauvreté de la Syrie post-Assad et la nécessité de la part de l'UE de faire beaucoup plus et vite, qui plus est dans un contexte où les sanctions américaines sur la banque centrale syrienne sont parties pour durer. www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...

Lizzie Porter talks to Syrian sources about Turkey’s plans to base forces in Palmyra and at Tiyas

@lcmporter.bsky.social
@thenationalnews.com

www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...

"He did not hide his intentions. He campaigned on them. He made them the central thrust of his election. He told Americans that he would betray our allies and give up our leadership position in the world."

"We cannot overstate what has just happened. It took just 71 days for Donald Trump to wreck the American economy, mortally wound NATO, and destroy the American-led world order"
from @jvl.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/the-americ...

If implemented it would likely make India and China think twice (or 10 times) about doing business with Russia.
Essentially - this is the "sanctions from hell"