Russia Traps Kiev Troops NE Kharkov; Desperate Zelensky Ceasefire Call Zaluzhny Says NATO Powerless

Russia Defeats West's 40-Day Attack Campaign. Trump Blasts "Duplicitous" Iran. Zaluzhny Mocks NATO

Japan's Yen Crisis: Why Bessent Is Secretly Propping Up the Dollar System

The Duran: Episode 961
France's Marine Le Pen Acquitted in Case Over Violating Hate Speech Laws
https://sputniknews.com/europe/202105041082797685-frances-marine-le-pen-acquitted-in-case-over-violating-hate-speech-laws/

Efforts by the United States to assume its transition takeover of Venezuela have been complicated by local politics. The US favor of Maduro's underling Rodriguez (versus Machado) is causing much head-scratching. It appears that Trump/Rubio do not trust Machado, and the US is pleased to stand on its achievement of kidnapping Maduro and cooperation with Rodriguez -- for now.

Populist activism in Venezuela has resulted in political protests there, where segments of the populace express outrage over the kidnapping of Maduro, while others favor installing Machado as leader. However, Machado seems to have somehow upset Rubio, where Machado is either unwilling or unable to comply with US demands, even though Machado claims Rubio to be an ally.

Rubio evidently considers Machado to be politically unreliable and a potential political complication at a time when the former United States is biting the bullet on Iran. Rubio does not wish to repeat the Iraq experience of the L. Paul Bremer Viceroy ...

https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/pakistan-fails-to-curb-imran-khan-s-clout-after-3-years-in-jail?utm_campaign=GL_mynewsmail&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_mynews&utm_content=article_link

'Japan Is Accelerating Its Transformation Into a War State' — Kim Yo-Jong

Kim Yo-jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, condemned Japan’s accelerating military buildup after Tokyo test-fired Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles from an Aegis destroyer, KCNA reported.

She said Japan is moving from constitutional limits and “peace-loving” rhetoric toward actual preemptive strike capability, backed by the United States.

“There is no guarantee that Japan, a war criminal state which has gradually made a political, military and legal footing for reinvasion, while denying and embellishing its history of aggression, will not inflict tragic disaster upon humankind again in case the preemptive attack capability is in its hands,” Kim stressed.

She warned that Japan’s long-range strike systems place the DPRK and other neighboring countries within range, calling the trend a grave threat to...