Butterflies On The Move

Around the world, ongoing environmental changes are prompting many butterfly species to relocate and search for new homes, a process referred to as species range shifts or species redistribution. 

As temperatures, rainfall and habitats change, butterflies can relocate over long distances, or even move vertically up and down mountain ranges. 

A new global study found one in ten known butterfly species has already shifted in range. So, where are they going – and why? 

Data from a collection of more than 6,180 reports (565 studies and 68 expert assessments) of butterfly range shift and which covered 1,758 species across 105 countries, showed 80% of the documented butterfly species had expanded their ranges latitudinally, meaning east to west, or longitudinally, meaning north to south. It found that 27% had reduced their range and 22% had shifted up or down slopes on hills or mountains. 

Many species showed a combination of these range changes. The public narrative is often simplistic: as the world warms, species are shifting towards cooler temperatures at higher latitudes, or moving upwards in mountains. This is happening, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. 

In fact, butterflies need more than to find new homes at the right temperature. Caterpillars often depend on specific host plants; adults need nectar, shelter and safe places to breed; and populations also require connected habitats so individuals can move easily through the landscape, meet, reproduce and breed. 

Some species show how fast changes can happen. The tawny coster (Acraea terpsicore) native to the Indian subcontinent, primarily centered in India and Sri Lanka, has expanded through Southeast Asia and into Australia. In Brazil, Godartiana byses has expanded from Rio de Janeiro and Bahia into São Paulo, a shift linked to climate warming. 

Other species show the opposite pattern. The small blue (Cupido minimus) has lost 40% of its habitat in the United Kingdom over the past 150 years. In Germany, the cranberry fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris) has lost much of its original habitat because of bog drainage. In Romania, an increase in farming has been linked to a severe range contraction of the danube clouded yellow (Colias myrmidone). 

Even range shifts along mountain slopes are not always straightforward. In Mexico, the painted lady (Vanessa cardui) shifted upslope at a rate of about 83 metres per year between 1988 and 2011. Over the same period, the queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) shifted downslope at a rate of about 32m per year. 

Together, these examples show butterfly species range shifts are not simply a story of animals moving towards the poles. 

In the comprehensive study, climate change and extreme weather events were the most common reasons why butterflies shifted their range. 

But climate change is not the only factor. Agriculture, forestry, urban development and habitat destruction are also reshaping where butterflies can live and reproduce. These disturbances destroy host plants and breeding sites, and fragment large habitats into patches too small to sustain a healthy population. 

It is important to note that butterflies are part of the living fabric around us. Adult butterflies contribute to pollination. Caterpillars feed birds, spiders and other insects. When butterflies disappear, it can signal the plants, grasslands or woodlands once visited by butterflies are also changing. 

This matters for conservation. Many protected areas are based on maps of where species lived in the past. But if butterflies and other species are moving, those maps quickly become outdated. 

The message is simple. Conservation cannot only protect habitats where species once lived – it must include the places where they will relocate, and the wildlife corridors they will use to get there. If not, we may keep protecting yesterday’s nature while tomorrow’s nature has nowhere left to go.

The Deadly Heatwave in Europe

Temperatures in Europe have hit a new high this summer, with hotter early-summer heatwaves resulting in illness, excessive deaths and the collapse of infrastructure. 

On June 28, temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions of the continent, including in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. 

And France’s national public health agency Santé publique France reported that the country experienced roughly 1,000 excess deaths during the heatwave which began on June 20th. 

Official figures noted that France's baseline death rate prior to the extreme heat (measured during April and May) sat at approximately 900 to 1,000 deaths per day. 

It's really, really bad because on June 23, 2026, for instance, France recorded a temperature of 44.3°C (111.7°F), making it one of the highest temperatures ever measured in the country since modern weather records began. 

Overall, 1,300 excess deaths have been reported in Europe since June 21, according to World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

In a post on X on June 28 too, he wrote that Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average, and warned that the continent’s infrastructure has not been built to withstand high temperatures. 

“Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the ‘once-in-a-generation’ heatwave is now occurring nearly annually”, he had grimly said.

Contrast this to Malaysia. During our hottest months so far in 2026 (March to May), the average daily temperatures ranged between 27°C and 28°C, with normal average daytime highs sitting around 33°C. 

In March and April, multiple districts in northern states like Perlis, Kedah, and Perak were placed under Level 2 heatwave alerts as daily maximum temperatures spiked between 37°C and 40°C for consecutive days. 

In fact, extended hot weather lasted through June, with maximum daytime temperatures consistently soaring up to 38°C across Peninsular Malaysia.

In case you're interested, the expected temperature in Malaysia today ranges from a minimum of 24°C to 25°C to a maximum of 33°C to 34°C. The current conditions are partly sunny at 24°C, though high humidity makes it feel closer to 28°C.

A Thorny Hold-Up

Even though Malaysian durian prices are said to be depressed this season, the king of fruits remains a lucrative target, proven when three robbers hauled away four baskets of premium-grade durians after threatening two teenage orchard caretakers in Melaka. 

Jasin police chief Lee Robert said the robbery took place at about 11:30 AM on June 27 at a durian orchard in Anjung Gapam, Bemban, where the two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, were looking after the durian harvest. He said the suspects, who arrived in a car, loaded four large baskets of “IOI” durians into their vehicle before one of the teenagers confronted them. 

“One of the suspects became aggressive and brandished a machete to intimidate the teenager, while another made off with a motorcycle belonging to the father of one of the victims before they fled”, he said the following day. 

Lee said acting on intelligence, a team from the Jasin police arrested four men, aged between 27 and 35, in separate raids between 12:30 AM and 7:30 AM on the same day in Bertam Hulu, Kampung Paya Rumput, Masjid Tanah and Jasin. 

“Two of the suspects admitted their involvement in the incident, while another was positively identified by one of the victims as the person who stole the motorcycle”, he added. 

He highlighted that three of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, while checks also revealed they had criminal records. 

However, police were unable to recover the stolen durians.

I'm happy to share that Germany and the Netherlands had been eliminated in the knockout phase (Round of 32) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, after both suffered dramatic penalty shootout defeats. 

In fact, Paraguay President Santiago Peña signed a decree declaring the following day, a national holiday to commemorate the victory against Die Mannschaft (The Team). 

The match had ended in a 1-1 tie after extra time, and then, La Albirroja (The White and Red) stunned the four-time world champions 4-3 on penalties. 

And Oranje (The Orange) lost 2-3 on penalties to Morocco after also being tied 1-1 after extra time. 

In the meantime, Brazil avoided a major upset by coming from behind to defeat Japan 2-1, also on Monday. A dramatic 95th-minute winner secured the Seleção (The Selection/Squad) a spot in the last 16. I'm glad too the Samurai Blue lost!

🤗🤗🤗

Axis Redux

Beware of Japan! And Germany!

In 1940, the imperial regimes of both of these two countries (as well as Italy) joined what would be known as the Axis powers, bound by a shared desire for territorial expansion and imperial supremacy. 

They fought a world war, and they lost it, and their populations spent the next 85 years with shrunken militaries and a heavy reliance on their former enemy, America, for security. 

Now, both countries are moving to reduce their reliance on US security guarantees and are accelerating efforts to bolster their own defense capabilities. And, once again, they are strengthening ties. 

Their cooperation is expected to gather momentum at the meeting of the leaders of the Group of 7 (G7) in Évian-les-Bains, France, taking place now. It already includes sharing know-how, technology and weapons, like drones and helicopters, critical to the countries’ respective efforts to rearm. 

In a few years, Germany’s military spending could be larger than that of France and Britain – combined. Japan commits half as much as Germany, but it is still one of the world’s top spenders on defense, with a budget this year of about $58 billion. 

Already, Germany has forged close ties with Ukraine in developing and deploying new weapons and has asked France to help provide it with a nuclear deterrent. 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who won office last year with nationalist calls to revive the military, has deployed long-range missiles – capable of reaching China – in southern Japan, and has reversed postwar bans on arms exports. The country recently sealed a $6.5 billion deal to supply warships to Australia, and it is in talks with the Philippines and Indonesia about exporting warships. 

Make no mistake, this is an Axis redux – as both countries enthusiastically embrace the ambition to reassert their dominance. Indeed, Germany and Japan are primed and eager to unleash their military might once more.

And the US is encouraging the two countries – but they have to be stopped before they start getting ideas and threaten the world! 

Methinks, Japan should confront its wartime legacy and seek genuine reconciliation with the countries it once invaded. It should also respect the postwar international framework and the spirit of its pacifist constitution instead of pursuing belligerent strategies.

More World Leaders Flock to Beijing

On February 02, I blogged that in January, world leaders had flocked to China. In fact, five of them. 

The visits to China – China Daily refers to them as the "China travel rush" – have not stopped. 

In February, two leaders descended upon the Middle Kingdom (Zhōngguó, 中国). They were Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi (1st-7th) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (25th-26th). [Note that the month was relatively quiet owing to the Spring Festival break].   

And in March, Chinese President Xi Jinping's diplomatic schedule was focused domestically during this month. He and other senior officials were engaged in the annual "Two Sessions" political meetings, which are the annual plenary sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. 

The following month, distinguished travelers who journeyed to China included: Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (April 04-11); Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (April 11-15); Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (April 12-14); To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam (April 14-17); and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo (April 16-22).

And in May, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon was in China, completing a four-day state visit to Beijing from 11th to 14th. 

Of course, the US didn't want to be left out. And so, its president invited himself to China. He was there from May 13 to 15, and incredibly, he was well-behaved.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was there as well for a two-day state visit, running from May 19 to May 20. And more than 40 documents and cooperation agreements were signed between China and Russia.

Then, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to China for a four-day official trip from May 23 to 26.

And Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić too from May 24-28. 

This isn't just about China being "open". 

As global uncertainty deepens, the world is gravitating toward a country that, weathering its own storms, continues to project a clear sense of purpose and progress.

The high-profile visits to Beijing by world leaders underscore China's leverage and centrality in shaping a multipolar world order. And Xi Jinping is at the centre of it all.

China's real power comes through Xi championing initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative – in fact, the country offers an alternative model for economic growth and state relations without political conditionality.

Mindanao Nearly Swapped for Greenland

I came across a Segundo Eclar Romeo piece in the Philippine Daily Inquirer published January 20 that more than a century ago, Mindanao and Palawan were casually floated as tradable assets in an internal United States diplomatic letter, suggested as part of a geopolitical swap for Greenland.

Yes, you read that right. 

In 1910, then US Ambassador to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan sent a letter to Washington proposing what he himself described as a “very audacious suggestion”. In this proposal, the US could acquire Greenland and the Danish West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands) in exchange for Mindanao and Palawan, which were, at that time, under American colonial rule. 

The idea was that Denmark would receive the southern Philippine islands and then trade them to Germany in exchange for Northern Schleswig, a region Denmark had lost to Prussia in 1864. The proposal amounted to a three-way colonial chess move – one that treated territories with entire peoples and cultures as mere geopolitical pieces on an imperial board. 

This proposal was never presented to Denmark or discussed with Philippine colonial authorities. But it reveals much about the prevailing mindset of US diplomacy in the early 20th century – one in which strategic territories could be swapped or traded, not unlike rare cards between collectors. 

It also casts a long shadow into the present, especially in light of the current campaign of the Trump administration, which again expressed interest in acquiring Greenland by purchase and even with veiled threats of military coercion. While this modern iteration may sound implausible or laughable, it reminds us that the idea has long been simmering in the strategic imagination of the US foreign policy establishment. 

It has been said that to many Filipinos, the idea of swapping an island – even one as far-flung as Greenland – for Mindanao, home to over 26 million people and a cradle of unique cultural and historical identity, is not only unimaginable but also offensive. Mindanao is not a bargaining chip, period! 

Yet, the 1910 letter proves that this kind of thinking existed – and perhaps still exists – in circles where power outweighs principle. That Mindanao was ever proposed as a tradable item – without the knowledge or consent of its people – is not merely a historical footnote. It is a sobering reminder of how colonial logic treated territories as objects, not homelands. 

And that colonial logic is embedded deep within the Donald Trump psyche.

In Shenzhen in Guangdong province, China: 

😒😒😒

The US Crisis That Cannot Be Ignored

The United States national debt that now stands at $38.4 trillion will very soon be growing faster than the economy itself.

Indeed, it has reached a precarious milestone, hitting 100% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and placing the nation on a trajectory that could trigger six distinct types of fiscal crises, according to an ominous new warning issued Thursday by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB).

With the national debt now effectively equal to the size of the entire US economy, the non-partisan watchdog’s latest report, “What Would a Fiscal Crisis Look Like?” outlined a dangerous future ahead. 

“If the national debt continues to grow faster than the economy”, the report said, “the country could ultimately experience a financial crisis, an inflation crisis, an austerity crisis, a currency crisis, a default crisis, a gradual crisis, or some combination of crises. Any of these would cause massive disruption and substantially reduce living standards for Americans and people across the world”. 

The report warned that unless policymakers enact a “thoughtful pro-growth deficit reduction package”, disaster likely lies ahead.

”The United States is deeply indebted, and its finances are on an unsustainable long-term trajectory”, the report concluded. While it’s “impossible” to know when disaster will strike, “some form of crisis is almost inevitable” without a course correction, the CRFB said.

Among the most alarming scenarios detailed is the “Austerity Crisis”. In this potential future, a loss of market confidence would force lawmakers to enact abrupt, massive spending cuts or tax hikes to quell panic. While deficit reduction is necessary, the CRFB warned that rapid implementation of such austerity measures during a weak economy could trigger the worst economic contraction in nearly a century. 

As an example of such an austerity crisis, the CRFB pointed to Greece in the 2010s during the Great Recession, when economic weakness led to an “untenable spike” in borrowing and bond yields, prompting a painful set of austerity measures that decimated the economy and pushed the unemployment rate to record levels. Portugal and Spain had similar, less severe crises during this period. 

Beyond forced austerity, the watchdog identified five other crisis scenarios:

1. Financial Crisis: If investors lose confidence in the US Treasury market, interest rates could spike uncontrollably. This would devalue existing bonds, potentially triggering cascading failures at banks and financial institutions.

The report cited the 2023 collapse of Silicon Valley Bank as a “small-scale” preview of how rapid rate increases can destabilize the banking sector. More broadly, though, it pointed to 2007 as a famous example of a financial crisis, driven by collapsing valuations of subprime mortgage-backed securities, leading to a Global Financial Crisis where hundreds of financial institutions closed, housing values declined by one-quarter, output shrank 4%, unemployment rose to 10%, and the economy took years to recover.

2. Inflation Crisis: To avoid default or bank failures, the Federal Reserve might be pressured to “monetize” the debt – printing money to buy Treasury bonds. This could spark spiraling inflation, eroding savings and purchasing power, similar to historical crises in Argentina or the Weimar Republic (Germany during the 1919–1933 period).

3. Currency Crisis: Reckless fiscal policy could lead to a sudden depreciation of the US Dollar, undermining its status as the world’s dominant reserve currency. A weakened dollar would erode American geopolitical power and make imports significantly more expensive. 

4. Default Crisis: Although considered “very unlikely”, a failure to pay interest or principal on the approximately $31 trillion in debt held by the public would be “catastrophic”. A default would freeze global credit markets, crash stock markets, and likely plunge the world into a deep recession.

5. Gradual Crisis: Perhaps the most insidious scenario is a slow decline where no acute event occurs. Instead, high debt crowds out investment, slowing growth over decades. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) models suggest this trajectory could leave real income per person 8% lower by 2050 than it would be otherwise. 

Japan is the classic example of a gradual crisis, with the CRFB noting that it has sustained extremely high levels of debt for several decades, avoiding an acute crisis but with real GDP only growing 10% (0.5% per year) over the past two decades.

The report noted that a crisis does not require a single “tipping point” but can be sparked by various catalysts, including a recession, a “poor” Treasury auction in which demand for US debt falters, or a breach of the debt limit. 

The warning comes as the fiscal situation deteriorates. Interest costs on the debt surged to roughly $1 trillion last year, consuming a near-record 18% of federal revenue – an amount comparable to the entire Medicare budget. “With debt at 100% of GDP”, the report argued, “the US has less fiscal space than any time in history in case of another war, pandemic, or recession”.

Decoding Donald Trump's Davos Speech

US President Donald Trump (left) spoke at the World Economic Forum on January 21 in Switzerland. His address was designated as a special session in the official agenda for Davos.

It was a meandering 72-minute speech of dubiety, deception and delirium. 

72 minutes in which he bragged everything is going great guns in the US of A! Grocery prices, energy prices, air fares, mortgages, rents, car payments – are all coming down and they are coming down fast!

72 minutes in which Trump confused Greenland with Iceland. One a colony of Denmark; the other a sovereign country. Multiple times. While explaining why he wants to buy it. 

72 minutes in which he called Greenland “a piece of ice” on which the fate of the Earth would depend: “What I’m asking for is a piece of ice in exchange for world peace”.

72 minutes in which he threatened a NATO ally, Denmark, with these words: “You can say yes, and we’ll appreciate it. You can say no, and we’ll remember it”.  

72 minutes in which he declared that he has “100% Scottish blood and 100% German blood”. Which would make 200%. Evidently math is not his strong suit. 

72 minutes in which he claimed that the United States, after World War II, “gave Greenland back to Denmark”. Too bad that’s not true. The United States never owned Greenland. Never. In 1916 they officially recognized Danish sovereignty. During the war they only obtained temporary military bases. And in 1946 they tried to buy it by offering 100 million dollars. Denmark said no. There was no “giving back”. 

72 minutes in which he claimed that “China has no wind turbines”. China. The country that for 15 consecutive years has been the world’s largest producer of wind energy. The one that builds 45% of all wind projects on the planet. But for Trump, “they don’t have fields of windmills”. They sell them “to the stupid”. 

72 minutes in which he said that “all the big oil companies are coming with us to Venezuela”. Too bad that 3 days earlier, the CEO of ExxonMobil told him to his face that Venezuela is “not investible”. Too bad Trump got furious and threatened to exclude Exxon. Too bad the other companies are standing on the sidelines, terrified. But at Davos he said “they’re all coming”. 

72 minutes in which he claimed that “there is practically no inflation” in the United States. US inflation is at 2.7%. Above the Fed’s target. Forecast to rise because of his own tariffs. But for him, “there is practically none”. 

72 minutes in which he attacked the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, calling him “stupid” and “Jerome too-late Powell”. Live. In front of world economic leaders. 

72 minutes in which he told the story of imposing tariffs on Switzerland out of spite, because “a woman” whose name he doesn’t remember “petted him the wrong way”. 

72 minutes in which he said that “yesterday the market crashed because of Iceland”. Iceland. A country with 380,000 inhabitants. That supposedly made Wall Street collapse. 

72 minutes in which he claimed that the United States “paid 100% of NATO”. 100%. When the American share of the NATO budget is about 16%. But for him, 100%. 

72 minutes in which he mispronounced Azerbaijan as “Aber-bajian”. 

72 minutes of conveyer-belt wordiness. A smokescreen of fustian and fantasy. A clumsy catalogue of easily verifiable lies, of made-up numbers, of threats to allies, of insults to officials, of geographical flubs, of boasts contradicted by facts. 

And the world, in bemused silence, watched. 

Greenland Prompts US Tariffs on European Allies

The Greenland issue is not going away anytime soon! 

US President Donald Trump is seeking to force the hand of his European allies who opposed his plan to take over the self-governing territory when he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and UK will be subject to a 10% US tariff on "all or any goods" from February 01. 

Accusing these countries of playing "a very dangerous game", he said the tariffs would be raised to 25% on June 01 "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland". 

Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and UK have even dispatched a tiny contingent of troops to Greenland in a symbolic show of force. It is strange that Denmark wasn't mentioned at all – but I would think they'll have troops there too.

I saw another report that says only 31 troops were deployed. Of this total, 15 were from France, 13 from Germany, 2 from Norway and one from UK. 😂😂😂

Denmark's Army chief Major-General Peter Boysen has come out to boldly assert that he's ready to defend Denmark! 😂😂😂

But Greenland and Denmark are two separate entities. Lest we forget, Denmark is an occupier, a colonizer.

And Boysen should know that at the Pituffik Space Base located on the north-west coast of Greenland – where the Americans already have a presence – the US has 150 troops stationed there!

Trump has previously said Washington would get the territory "the easy way" or "the hard way" – an apparent reference to buying the island or taking it by force. The US president insists “world peace is at stake” as China and Russia “want Greenland”. 

Only the US can “play this game”, he emphatically adds.

Kaja Kallas Says It’s Time for Booze

EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas has privately suggested that the state of the world might make it a “good moment” to start boozing, Politico reported on Wednesday. 

The comment comes as Kallas faces direct calls to step down over her handling of the bloc’s foreign policy. 

The Estonian reportedly made the remark during an informal discussion with leaders of political groups in the European Parliament, according to Politico which cited two people who were present. According to the sources, Kallas (right) said that even as a teetotaller, the current global situation could justify starting. Poor woman, methinks, it's an open admission of personal stress.

Her ‘joke’ comes amid heightened tensions across the globe, including US threats towards Denmark's Greenland, Iran and Venezuela, the ongoing Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, and mounting criticism of Brussels from within the EU. 

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (left) stated last week that “we must replace the European Union’s High Representative for Policy, Ms. Kallas”, arguing that the bloc is in an unprecedented crisis and that the leadership is incapable of solving problems, knowing only how to “hate Russia”.

Meanwhile, some Western European leaders were recently caught up in a drug-abuse controversy after a video went viral in May supposedly showing French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with objects speculated to be drug paraphernalia during a train journey to Kiev, Ukraine. 

Macron’s office have vehemently denied the claims, stating the object in question was a tissue and calling the story “disinformation” spread by “France’s enemies”. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, however, suggested at the time that if the suspected objects were indeed drug-related, it would explain “a lot of recent ideas and proposals” coming from Kiev’s European backers. 

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also commented on the footage stating that it “opened the veil of the stinking Sabbath” of Western politics, adding that “the fate of Europe is decided in every sense by drug addict placeholders”. She also recalled a Western ambassador telling her in 2022 that it was “normal” to take drugs in the EU and that many Western leaders used cocaine.

Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan's defensive frailties once again came into focus as the world No. 2 were clearly outplayed by Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto in the semi-finals of the India Open today. 

The Malaysians fell 21-16, 21-13 to the world No. 6 Japanese as Yuki-Mayu's attacking exposed gaps at the backcourt. 

Thinaah admitted that they struggled to cope with their opponents' pace and intensity, particularly during rallies. Despite producing flashes of quality, the duo were often forced into passive positions, allowing Yuki-Mayu to dictate play with sharp angles and quick interceptions at the net. 

The Malaysians' next mission is the Indonesia Masters next week.

EU Won’t Succeed Where Hitler and Napoleon Failed

An Italian confirmation that the whole world outside of the West already knows!

The EU’s 19 packages of sanctions on Russia have weakened the European economy, Matteo Salvini, Italian deputy prime minister and minister of transport and infrastructure said. 

"I would just like to note that almost four years of the conflict and 19 packages of sanctions, which were supposed to bring [Russia] to its knees, <...> brought European economies to their knees... ", he told Rete4. 

As I write this post, the EU are busy preparing their 20th package of sanctions against Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has clearly expressed her ambition to further raise the cost of Russia's war. 

EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas had earlier already reiterated the same: “Wars are lost by those who run out of money or soldiers first”, and adding that was why “we must continue to put pressure on Russia with sanctions”.  

But Russia is not to be messed with. 

As Salvini noted: "Neither Hitler nor Napoleon was able to bring Moscow to its knees, and I doubt that [top EU diplomat] Kaja Kallas, [French President Emmanuel] Macron, [British Prime Minister Keir] Starmer, and [German Chancellor Friedrich] Merz will be able to do that". Von der Leyen should know that too.

In his view, Europe is NOT facing any threat from the east.

World No. 2 Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan put one foot into the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Finals after powering to their second straight win in Group A on Thursday.

The duo stamped their authority once again by brushing aside world No. 6 Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-13, 21-18 in 52 minutes. 

The victory has stretched Pearly-Thinaah's commanding head-to-head record against the Japanese pair to 8-2.

The Malaysians will take on another Japanese pair, Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto in the final fixture today.

Russia Unwraps New Weapons

Russophobic Europe are itching to go to war against Russia. I am especially pointing out France, Germany and UK.

I don't know if the Europeans are naive or stupid. Or if they're not, they don't give a damn. 

The truth is, Russia is not to be messed with. Russia can obliterate Europe, if it chooses to. 

Just so everyone knows that in a matter of less than a year, Russia has come up with not one, not two, not three, but 4 bangers! 

1. Oreshnik: Hypersonic missile, already tested on the Ukrainian battlefield 
2. Burevestnik or Stormbringer with a nice "Deep Purple" ring to it. Nuclear missile with unlimited range. 
3. Poseidon: Nuclear-powered torpedo, capable of loitering underwater, undetected for unlimited time; then, on command, strikes at coasts with a nuclear payload, provoking a radioactive tsunami. Largely exceeds the destructive power of the Sarmat, Russia's largest ICBM
4. Khabarovsk: Nuclear sub. Call it the Messenger of Doom, capable of delivering at least 6 doomsday-enabling Poseidons.

The West possesses this conviction that Russian weaponry is degraded due to the effects of massive sanctions, the losing war in Ukraine, and systemic issues with its military-industrial base. I have even read about this bizarre belief that Russian nukes are impaired and maybe not even operational. 😮😮😮😮

Nothing can be further from the truth. The West underestimates Russia at their own peril.

Celtic are within two points of Hearts and with a game in hand after their 2-1 win against Hibernian in yesterday's Scottish Premiership match. 

A poor pass from the Hibees goalie let Reo Hatate steal possession, who then rolled the ball to his right for Daizen Maeda to slot into the empty net in the 27th minute. Within a minute, Yang Hyun-jun clipped in an inviting cross from the left and Arne Engels stooped to power home a header from just outside the six-yard box. 

The Edinburgh side came back into the match and reduced the deficit in the 56th minute after being awarded a penalty for a Liam Scales handball. 

Hibs chased the equaliser thereafter but Celtic held firm to make further ground on the table toppers.

This was a victory which bore all the hallmarks of the Celtic side of a year ago. Energy, no little skill and relentless pressing. The elements which led the side to the brink of a famous win Champions League win at Bayern Munich in February but have been conspicuous by their absence pretty much ever since. 

One cannot underestimate the impact of Martin O'Neill. These are the same players Brendan Rodgers had at his disposal. They just look different; better still, they played with purpose. The biggest compliment you can give O'Neill is that Celtic are now starting to look far more like themselves.

Germany Reports 10x Surge in Refugee Applications from Ukrainians

Germany has recorded a steep increase in asylum applications from Ukrainians after Kiev eased travel restrictions for younger men who are not yet subject to mandatory conscription, German media reported on Wednesday, citing Interior Ministry data. 

According to the figures, the number of weekly applications rose from roughly 100 to about 1,000 after Ukraine allowed men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country legally. The exemption was introduced in late August. 

A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry told the Funke Media Group that Berlin could not yet determine whether the spike represented a “temporary development”. 

Ukraine imposed a blanket travel ban on men aged 18 to 60 shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, though its compulsory draft currently applies only to those aged 25 and older. 

Interior Minister Igor Klimenko described the decision in August as an opportunity for “education, internships, and legal employment abroad”, suggesting that the experience gained overseas could later benefit the Ukrainian economy. 

Despite Kiev’s previous claim that no large-scale outflow had been observed, Poland’s border guard service reported a surge in crossings from about 500 to more than 6,000 per week at checkpoints in the Podkarpackie region during the first week of the new policy. 

Ukrainian media outlets have since reported an uptick in resignations among young men seeking to relocate abroad, as well as a wave of social media posts lamenting the sudden decline in dating prospects among young women. 

Conscription remains one of Ukraine’s most contentious domestic issues. Critics argue that the draft disproportionately affects poorer citizens unable to bribe their way out of service, while widespread avoidance has undermined the mobilization effort. 

Moscow has accused Kiev of fighting “to the last Ukrainian” for Western interests.

Malaysia's squash No. 1 played brilliantly to defeat Egypt's world No. 15 Salma Hany to reach the final of the Silicon Valley Open at Redwood City in the United States on Monday. 

Sivasangari Subramaniam won the semi-final 11-3, 11-9, 11-5 in in 21 minutes.

Fresh from their Arctic Open triumph last weekend, world No. 2 Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan continued their fine momentum with a confident first-round victory at the Denmark Open on Wednesday. 

They dispatched Indonesia's world No. 127 Febi Setianingrum-Rachel Rose 21-13, 21-17 to advance in just 35 minutes.

Ukraine Urges Germans to Take Revenge

Ukrainian military recruitment posters have been spotted on the streets of the German capital, the Berliner Zeitung reported on Wednesday. Photos of the posters urging Germans to take revenge for the country's defeat in World War II also circulated on social media. 

The said posters in the southwestern district of Berlin-Wilmersdorf feature a photo of WWII-era German prisoners of war with the caption: "Get even. Together with the Ukrainian liberators".

They also include a call to join the Ukrainian International Legion. According to the Berliner Zeitung, a QR code on the posters links to the official website of a military unit created by Kiev to recruit foreigners after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. 

The posters first appeared in mid-September and were seen by many, according to the outlet. They remained in place for several days before being removed. 

Recruiting German nationals for foreign military or military-style organizations is a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. According to the Berliner Zeitung, most local residents oppose the posters. 

"I consider it unacceptable to try to recruit our citizens to participate in this war", one woman told the paper. The origin of the posters remains unclear, and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the development. 

In 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov claimed that thousands of foreign nationals answered Kiev's call and applied to join the newly formed International Legion. A year later, the New York Times reported that the numbers were greatly inflated and that only around 1,500 people actually joined the unit, which was "struggling" to recruit new members. 

Russia has warned that it considers all foreign nationals fighting for Kiev to be mercenaries. Many of them, including International Legion members, took part in Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Region last year, which was later repelled. Russian law enforcement officials have launched dozens of probes into war crimes committed by foreign mercenaries during the incursion.

German Cafe Owner Declares War On Matcha

A centuries-old Japanese tradition, matcha, seems to have taken over the world by storm thanks to its versatility and buzz-worthy health benefits. 

But more than that, matcha has become a lifestyle symbol with even celebrities following the trend. Cafés and influencers have turned it into a fad, making the bright green drink a must-have for those who want to be part of the crowd.  

Amid the growing craze around matcha, a café owner in Germany has gone viral for taking a bold stand against the matcha craze – and people online can't get enough of it, with his post racking up over 900,000 likes on social media. 

Dritan Alsela, a well-known barista who owns three cafés and even runs his own barista school, is typically celebrated online for his impressive latte art. But this time, it's his open disdain for matcha that's stealing the spotlight. 

Launching what he calls an "anti-matcha campaign", Dritan first shared cheeky slogans on Instagram like, "Coffee lovers of all nations, unite against matcha". 

Now declaring war on the green powder, the barista has shared another post showing that he has taken the protest offline. The slogan reads: "Matcha drinkers not permitted. This is a coffee establishment. Respect the beans". 

Social media users had a field day with the post. While some joked and shared memes, others applauded the café's humorous stand on matcha. 

One user wrote, "Matcha is so overrated, people just following the crowd like lemmings these days". 

Another user supported, "As a coffee lover, I agree". 

"I don't care much about matcha drinkers but I would most definitely visit you just for this sign", wrote one Instagram user. 

"I don't understand how people love matcha. I mean, honestly I really wanted to like it but it tastes like grass", another user joked. 

At the $231,500 Qatar Classic in Doha on Sunday, world No. 7 Sivasangari Subramaniam sealed a place in the second round with a 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 win over world No. 48 Nadine Shahin of Egypt. 

Our Malaysian squash darling will face Belgium's world No. 11 Nele Gilis for a place in the quarter-finals.