The United States is ready to propose that Europe recognize Crimea as Russian when officials meet on Wednesday in London to discuss a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian agency TASS reported today, citing The Washington Post and its sources.

According to the report, the proposal will be part of a possible peace agreement, and Washington will also suggest freezing the current front line.

The newspaper states that the U.S. presented its proposals to Ukraine last week in Paris. These include Washington formally recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and eventually lifting sanctions on Russia under a future agreement. In return, Moscow would end hostilities in Ukraine at a time when the Russian military has momentum on the battlefield and significant advantages, TASS reports.

The Ukrainian delegation interpreted the proposal as “Washington’s final offer before considering withdrawing from the peace process,” TASS cites The Washington Post as reporting.

French, British, and German negotiators are expected to insist that any agreement include “security guarantees and post-war reconstruction programs, possibly partially funded by frozen Russian assets,” the newspaper notes.

European and Ukrainian officials have privately acknowledged that it is unlikely Kyiv will regain control of the Russian-held territories anytime soon, the report states.

According to Bloomberg, Washington presented preliminary proposals for a Ukrainian solution to its allies during a meeting between the Kyiv delegation and representatives of Western countries in Paris on April 17. These include abandoning talks on Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and easing sanctions on Russia.

The proposals also foresee Russia retaining control over all territories it currently controls.

Pope Francis, in his will composed on June 29, 2022, expressed his wish for his final resting place to be the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, it was announced this evening in the Vatican.

“Feeling the twilight of my earthly life approaching, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to express my final desires solely regarding the place of my burial. Throughout my life, and during my priestly and episcopal ministry, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major,” reads the Pope’s will.

I wish for my final earthly journey to conclude precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic journey, confidentially entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care, wrote Pope Francis.

He specifically requested how his tomb should be prepared: “in a burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the basilica.”

“The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without special ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus,” is the Pope’s final wish.

“The funeral preparation costs will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the extraordinary commissioner of the Liberian Basilica,” Vatican News reported from the Pope’s will.

“May the Lord grant a worthy reward to all those who loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that marked the final part of my life I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for brotherhood among nations,” the Pope stated in his will composed on June 29, 2022.

The death of Pope Francis, announced this morning, has sparked speculation about his successor, who will be known when white smoke appears from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel following a complex and secretive election process.

Given the nature of the cardinal appointments made by Pope Francis during his reign, it is expected that the new pope will also be from outside Europe, and that he will be another progressive, opposing the conservative wing of the Roman Catholic Church, according to Reuters.

Among the potential candidates for the new pope are the Archbishop of Marseille Jean-Marc Aveline (66) from France, Cardinal Péter Erdő (72) from Hungary, Cardinal Mario Grech (68) from Malta, Cardinal Pietro Parolin (70) from Italy, Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle (67) from the Philippines, Cardinal Joseph Tobin (72) from Newark, USA, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson (76) originally from Ghana, and the Archbishop of Bologna Matteo Maria Zuppi (69)…

The election process will take place after Pope Francis is buried, and the new leader will be elected by secret ballot by members of the conclave, which may only include cardinals under the age of 80 following the death or resignation of a pope.

Until a new pope is chosen, the College of Cardinals governs the Roman Catholic Church.

The complex voting process will reveal whether the current cardinals, most of whom were appointed by Pope Francis, believe that his embrace of liberal social values and progressive reform agenda has gone too far, or whether a period of retreat is needed.

The cardinals will determine the date for the start of the conclave once they begin arriving in Rome over the coming days.

After the funeral ceremony for the pope and once everything has been prepared for the conclave at both general and special meetings of the cardinals, they gather on a set day—no earlier than the 14th and no later than the 20th day after the pope’s death—for Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. That same afternoon, they gather in the Chapel of St. Paul in the Apostolic Palace and proceed in a solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel, where the election takes place in strict secrecy.

The cardinals vote for their preferred candidate until a winner is determined—a process that can take several days, or even months.

The only clue as to how the voting is proceeding is the smoke that rises twice daily from the burning of the cardinals’ ballots. Black smoke means a negative outcome, while white smoke will be the sign that a new pope has been elected.

After the white smoke rises, the new pope usually appears within an hour on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

A senior cardinal participating in the conclave will announce the decision with the words: “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope), and then introduce the new leader by his chosen papal name.

The Catholic Church currently has 252 cardinals, of whom 138 are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote. As many as 109 of the voting cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, 22 by his predecessor Benedict, and five by Pope John Paul II.

Cardinals are “created” during ceremonies known as consistories, during which they receive

The reasons for these price increases are primarily climate change.

In March, German consumers had to pay 16.7 percent more for chocolate than in the same month last year, according to the German Federal Statistical Office.

The most significant price increase was recorded for chocolate (+25 percent).

However, prices for other chocolate products also rose noticeably (+11.1 percent), reports Deutsche Welle.

“In contrast, there was an uneven development in the prices of confectionery and pastry products,” the statisticians revealed. These products became 3.1 percent more expensive in March overall. This primarily refers to the prices of pralines and boxed chocolates. On the other hand, there was a slight decrease in the prices of chewing gum, gummy candies, and similar products. By comparison, food prices as a whole rose by three percent during the same period, according to Poslovni Dnevnik.

Mid-term comparisons also clearly show that last year, chocolate was 40 percent more expensive than in 2020. Classic chocolate became 32 percent more expensive, while other chocolate products saw a price increase of as much as 46 percent. Prices of sweets in general rose by 29 percent during that mid-term period, and eggs by as much as 38.5 percent. Over those four years, food prices overall increased by 33 percent.

The reasons for these price increases are primarily climate change. Poor harvests have affected cocoa prices in recent years. Periods of drought alternate with heavy rainfall, especially in the agricultural regions of West Africa. Cocoa trees are increasingly susceptible to pest infestations, which thrive and spread rapidly under such weather conditions.

Earlier this week, the West African country Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, warned of the risk of crop failure due to excessive rainfall. The harvest season in that country lasts from April to September. Forecasts indicate a risk of heavy rains, which threaten not only the quantity of crops but also the quality. This, in turn, means another price increase on the global market.

Thousands of Americans took to the streets of New York and other major cities today, on the second day of protests against President Donald Trump, held two weeks apart.

“No king in America” and “Resist tyranny” could be seen on signs at the protests in New York, alongside images of the U.S. president with Hitler-style mustaches.

The demonstrators are particularly condemning the White House’s anti-immigration policy, at a time when the country’s Supreme Court has suspended the deportation of immigrants based on the 1798 “Alien Enemies” Act.

“Immigrants are welcome here,” chanted the protesters gathered in front of the public library in the largest U.S. city, not far from the famous Trump Tower.

Protesters also gathered today in front of the White House in Washington, although in smaller numbers than during the previous demonstrations on Saturday, April 5, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets.

Protests were also reported in front of Tesla car stores, a brand owned by Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump tasked with drastically reducing the public administration.

The demonstrations are organized by a group called 50501, a number that represents 50 demonstrations in 50 U.S. states leading to a single movement – against the Republican president.

The movement represents “a rapid, decentralized response to the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies,” according to the group’s website.

The organization has scheduled around 400 demonstrations throughout the day.

It is difficult to get accurate figures on the number of participants, as many police departments refuse to provide estimates, reports Agence France-Presse.

The bodies of two people who had been reported missing during the storm in northern Italy were found today, firefighters reported, bringing the death toll in that area to three.

The body of a 64-year-old man and his 33-year-old son, whose car was swept away by the flood, were found near Vicenza in the northeastern region of Veneto. The president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, expressed condolences to the woman who lost her husband and son, calling it an "unimaginable tragedy."

The two had signed up as volunteers and were on their way to assist in rescue operations when the accident occurred.

On Thursday, a 90-year-old man was found in his flooded home in Piedmont, in the northwest of the country.

Northern Italy, along with the French and Swiss Alps, was hit by heavy rainfall on Thursday, which turned into snow at higher altitudes, leading to numerous road blockages caused by landslides and floods.

Dozens of people had to be evacuated from flooded areas, sometimes with their domestic animals. In the Aosta Valley, around 5,000 families were left without power on Thursday evening, according to the local electricity provider.

Footage from Agence France-Presse shows streets covered in mud in Monteu da Po, Piedmont, a small town where firefighters found the body of the 90-year-old man yesterday.

Footage from other areas in the region shows streets covered in debris and sludge.

Spot gold has surpassed the magical threshold of $3,300 per ounce for the first time.

The precious metal has extended its gains and has just reached $3,307 per ounce, marking a 2.4 percent increase on the day, as investors rush to invest in "safe havens."

Trump's trade war shows no signs of easing after the president ordered potential tariffs and an investigation into critical minerals, semiconductors, and pharmaceutical products, prompting a renewed shift toward safe havens such as gold, said the head of strategy at Saxo Bank, Ole Hansen.

Financial firm ANZ has today raised its year-end gold price forecast to $3,600 per ounce and its six-month forecast to $3,500.

It seems that Trump spared Turkey when setting tariffs – unlike the EU and China. The Turkish economy wants to profit from this and increase exports. But for that, it needs to meet certain conditions.

"I have great relations with a man named Erdogan" – this is how US President Donald Trump described his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this week in the Oval Office, sitting next to Erdogan's political rival Benjamin Netanyahu. "I like him. He likes me. We’ve never had a problem," the American president added.

This isn't entirely true: On October 7, 2019, Trump threatened to "destroy the Turkish economy" and said he had already done so once. In a letter dated October 16, 2019, sent to Erdogan, Trump urged the Turkish president to strike a "good deal" with him. And he emphasized: "I do not want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy."

The Turkish economy has faced significant challenges over the last six years – the Turkish lira has lost significant value. In March 2007, one US dollar was worth about 1.30 Turkish lira, in October 2019 it was 5.79, and today it’s 38.06 lira.

Although Trump may have harmed the Turkish economy back then, it seems that today the two heads of state are agreeing better than before. In fact, Turkey is one of the countries least affected by Trump's tariff policy: a "mere" 10 percent tariff was imposed on Turkish goods. Trump's 90-day tariff pause and the general reduction to ten percent for all countries except China temporarily level the playing field with Turkey.

New Hope?

Unlike the negative sentiment in Europe, Turkish business representatives do not see the tariffs as a crisis – but as an opportunity. They are convinced: with the right trade policy, Turkey can benefit from the new situation.

The new rules of the game by Donald Trump could especially help Turkish exporters gain an advantage in the US market, says Bulent Ajmen, vice president of the Mediterranean Furniture, Paper, and Wood Products Exporters Association (AKAMIB).

"The United States has been our main market for the last three years. Our exports are increasing every month. The intensification of the tariff war allows Turkey to gain market share in the US in areas such as the chemical and automotive industries, furniture and electronics production. We must definitely make the most of this advantage," says Ajmen.

The trade volume between Turkey and the US exceeds 30 billion US dollars. The US is currently Turkey's second most important trading partner – after Germany. Turkish exports to the US have increased by an average of 16 percent over the last five years, while US exports to Turkey have risen by 9 percent. According to the Turkish Exporters' Association (TİM), Turkey exported goods worth around 21.1 billion US dollars to Germany in 2023, while exports to the US amounted to about 14.8 billion. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), exports to the US reached 16.3 billion US dollars by the end of 2024.

Turkey primarily exports chemical products, automotive parts, clothing, carpets, and electronics to the US. At the same time, it imports more than half of its cotton – for textile products which it then exports to the US.

According to Şeref Fayat, a representative of the textile industry in the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Trump’s high tariffs on imports from China and the European Union could increase the visibility of Turkish products in the US market. "Now we must act quickly. We can use the problems that China, Vietnam, and Cambodia will likely face to our advantage," Fayat believes.

Criticism of Turkey's Trade Policy

Fayat is optimistic about the future of trade with Trump’s America. "I don't expect Turkey to be negatively affected by the new situation." He suggests negotiating with the US for limited tariff-free trade. "This is a very important opportunity, but we must carefully monitor how our most important trading partner, the European Union, will be affected by American tariff policies," he warns.

However, among some other governments, there is cautious optimism: the potential is sufficient, but many Turkish companies are not ready to take advantage of it, says Murat Akjuz, former president of the Chemical Products Exporters Association (IKMIB). "I believe that the new US tariff policy is a great opportunity for Turkey. At the same time, I think that exporters in Turkey are not adequately prepared." In the past, he says, many opportunities were missed because "a sustainable trade policy was not followed."

Fayat also notes shortcomings: access to US consumers for Turkish products is limited – due to a lack of shopping centers and warehouses. He criticizes the policy: "Although Trump announced these tariffs a long time ago, unfortunately, we have not made the necessary preparations."

Turkey as a Production Hub?

In addition to exports, Turkey could establish itself in another field as a strategic player: as a manufacturing location for Asian companies. Specifically, Turkey could invite companies from China to produce in Turkey – to circumvent high tariffs. Its geopolitical position as a bridge between the East and West supports this.

"We must explain to those countries – especially China – the advantage of relocating production to Turkey," says Akjuz. "We should actively encourage investments in our country. Turkey, with its infrastructure and the potential of a skilled workforce, is well-prepared for this," believes Akjuz.