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Alessandro Di Battista on Pope Francis death:

In the coming days, we will witness the usual and hypocritical posthumous glorification by politicians and journalists. There will be broadcasts, television marathons, and miles of editorials written to commemorate “the innovative Pope,” “the reformist Pope,” “the pontiff from the end of the world.” World leaders will come to Rome to pay their respects at his funeral.

But remember this: many of those who will now praise him (politicians and journalists alike) are the same people who completely ignored him, treated him as irrelevant, when Francis dared to speak out against the arms industry, when he broke the veil of hypocrisy by discussing the origins of the war in Ukraine and NATO's responsibilities, and above all when he cried out in absolute indignation over the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

“It is necessary to investigate whether a genocide is taking place in Gaza,” Francis said on November 17, 2024. Virtually no political leader (except for the Israelis who attacked him) commented on his words. Those who now glorify him ignored him when he denounced the horror (even last night, Israeli terrorists bombed displaced civilians) taking place just a few hundred kilometers from Rome. Hypocrites, merchants of the temple! Francis was a man of peace, and in times as dark as these, that seems to me an extraordinary merit.

China warns it will take "resolute and reciprocal" countermeasures against countries negotiating with the US if they strike deals at China’s expense in the ongoing trade war.

Responding to reports that Donald Trump is pressuring nations to limit trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions, China’s commerce ministry stated, "China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests."

The ministry added that "appeasement will not bring peace," warning that seeking temporary selfish interests at the expense of others will ultimately fail and harm everyone involved.

— From The Cradle (21/4/25)

Hamas statement regarding the passing of Pope Francis:

The Islamic Resistance Movement extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the Catholic Church worldwide and to all Christians on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, who passed away after a distinguished career in the service of human and religious values.

The late Pope Francis was a noted advocate of interfaith dialogue, calling for understanding and peace among peoples, and rejecting hatred and racism. On more than one occasion, he expressed his rejection of aggression and wars in the world, and was one of the prominent religious voices to condemn the war crimes and genocide being perpetrated against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

While we, in the Islamic Resistance Movement movement, value his moral and humanitarian stances, we emphasize the importance of continuing the joint efforts between the bearers of divine messages and people of living consciences to confront injustice and colonialism, and to support the causes of justice, freedom, and the rights of oppressed peoples. 

So we can agree that went to the Vatican to kill the Pope, right?

JD Vance killed the pope

#popecrash

The late pope really held on for Easter, huh.

Next megathread here, in the aftermath of Vance plummeting 16 feet through an announcer's table onto Pope Francis

Currently on a break from Anglo political content while visiting family in El Salvador. I did decide to come back just to relay some interesting information from leftists in the country.

CECOT is actually the prison with the best conditions in the entire country and it certainly looks like it from the outside. I’ve seen much worse looking ones since arriving.

But it isn’t the industrial extermination camp people think it is. The real one is under the radar and it’s at Izalco. There’s an unmarked graveyard rumored to be inside or nearby it while no such thing has been heard of at CECOT.

So I’m off for another couple of days.

Also an obligatory fuck you to anyone still looking to “punish” or invade El Salvador.

The libs are mad again because Pete Hegseth didn't properly file his paperwork and protect the information about doing massive war crimes. The war crimes themselves tho, those are great.

US lapdog submits to its master:
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Economy/south-korea--will-not-fight-back--against-trump-tariffs--act

Following Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office this month by the country's constitutional court, Han Duck-soo, a technocrat serving as acting president, highlighted that "the role of the US was huge in making Korea what it is now."

Apart from the fact that islands are populated, I'd love to see these libertarians do more of this. Find land that is completely unpopulated. Create a "libertarian"/liberal/conservative utopia. Get owned by bears. Repeat.

I've noticed recently that Wikipedia has been a lot less pro-Israel recently. Like, they directly call it an Apartheid state and what Israel is doing a genocide without any qualifiers, and if you look at the Talk pages on those articles, any time someone tries to bring it up, they're basically just like "No. We've already settled on this discussion."

https://xcancel.com/CPC_HQ/status/1913688390672752696

dunno how to link videos proper, but conservatives in canada achieve tremendous dissonance in advertising

Ukraine truce is broken as many predicted it would be. Don't know full details too many western outlets laying the blame on Putin. Non western outlets blaming Ukraine. Fog of war right now.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-putin-zelensky-easter-truce-latest-news-b2736321.html

Send in the clown: Bill Maher turns pro-Trump

Maher, the comic who once fancied himself a fearless political truth-teller, is now wobbling under the weight of his own ego. His recent televised monologue — an extended love letter to his dinner with Trump — was less a political reflection than a highlight reel of self-flattery and unearned gravitas.

Maher bragged that he had dinner with Trump — “a dinner that was set up by my friend Kid Rock.” Yes, when your access to the leader of the free world is coordinated by a rap-rock-country novelty act — a man who has assaulted a strip-club DJ, waved Confederate flags and hurled homophobic slurs at his own fans — you might want to reevaluate your choices. But Maher treated it like an RSVP to the Met Gala.

“I’m not the leader of anything,” Maher proclaimed, “except maybe a contingent of centrist-minded people who think there’s got to be a better way of running this country than hating each other every minute.”

Amazing timing, just as Trump is becoming less popular than ever, including his entire first term.

US airstrikes continue on Yemen for the 37th night in a row, with multiple airstrikes on Kamaran Island and Marib Governorate.

More airstrikes on the capital, Sana'a.

Renewed airstrikes in Sana'a and Saada Governorates.

More airstrikes on Saada, Sana'a Ma'rib, Al Mahwit, and Amran Governorates. ~~I think this is the first strike on Al Mahwit during this campaign.~~

Turns out that the cruise missile that landed in Al Mahwit government was likely not from a US airstrike, but a failed Ansarallah Quds series cruise missile launch.

More airstrikes on Ma'rib.

Warning for potential graphic imagery of casualties during ongoing airstrikes:

Al Masirah TV twitter

Xcancel mirror

AP: Thousands gather in London to support trans rights following UK ruling over definition of woman

Including this wonderful bit of cognitive dissonance:

Trans groups are worried that Wednesday’s landmark decision would undermine their rights, even though the U.K.'s highest court said transgender people remain protected from discrimination. The head of Equality and Human Rights Commission said the ruling will mean transgender women will be excluded from women’s toilets, hospital wards and sports teams.

Of course, the BBC has the real news: Westminster statues vandalised at trans protest