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While markets wait for trade negotiations with 90 countries at the same time, global trade is grinding to a standstill with problems similar to what we saw during Covid: growing supply chain challenges with potential shortages in US stores within a few weeks, higher US inflation, and lower tourism to the US. We reiterate our view that if current policies do not change, then the probability of a US recession in 2025 is 90%,

NEW YORK, April 19. /TASS/. US authorities are ready to recognize Crimea as Russian territory within the framework of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.

According to the news agency, this move is "the latest signal that President Donald Trump is eager to cement a ceasefire deal" and the settlement in Ukraine.

The sources indicated that "a final decision on the matter hadn’t yet been taken."

The news agency reiterated that in Paris on Thursday, Washington presented its allies with proposals to enable a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, "including an outline of terms to end the fighting and ease sanctions on Moscow in the event of a lasting ceasefire." Additionally, the proposal presumes that all territories liberated by Russia remain under its control. Discussions will continue in London next week.

In March, the Semafor portal reported, citing sources, that the Trump administration is considering officially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia in connection with the Ukraine peace deal. US representatives are also discussing calling on the UN to take a similar step.

After the Western-backed February 2014 coup in Ukraine, Crimea and Sevastopol held a referendum, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deal on March 18, 2014, which the Federation Council (upper house of the Russian parliament) ratified on March 21, 2014. Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kiev has refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

In a landmark achievement for robotics, the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon concluded in Beijing's E-Town on Saturday, with "Tiangong Ultra" – developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center – securing the championship. The robot completed the 21.0975-kilometer course in 2 hours and 40 minutes, maintaining a steady pace of 7 to 8 kilometers per hour throughout the race.

The route featured a mix of flat surfaces and slopes with a maximum gradient of 9 degrees. Competitors faced six left turns and eight right turns, including tight 90-degree angles, demanding precise balance during navigation. A final 1.5-kilometer straight stretch before the finish line tested sprinting capabilities, showcasing the robots' adaptability to varied conditions.

Twenty teams participated, fielding robots of drastically different sizes. Tiangong Ultra – the tallest competitor at 180 cm and 52 kg – mirrored adult human proportions, while the compact "Little Giant Robot" stood just 75 cm and weighed 10 kg, highlighting the spectrum of design approaches in this emerging field.

Described as the first open-environment long-distance endurance test for humanoid robots, the event aimed to foster collaboration across the industry chain. Organizers emphasized its role in accelerating technology transfer from labs to real-world applications through professionally crafted rules and human-machine coordination frameworks. By bridging innovation and practicality, the race seeks to unlock the "blue ocean market" of new and uncontested market spaces for humanoid robotics, driving breakthroughs in autonomous mobility and collaborative systems.

A BYU graduate student has had his Form I-20 revoked without notice and told to go back to Japan before the end of April. He is among dozens of international students in Utah who were told their visas had been revoked last week.

He and his attorney, Adam Crayk, told KSL NewsRadio the federal government revoked his visa without prior notice due to what the government said was “otherwise failing to maintain status.”

Crayk said he only has two speeding tickets on his record, as well as a catch and release violation from a fishing trip in 2019, which was dismissed with prejudice in court.

Crayk told Dave & Dujanovic that Onda has little to no social media footprint. He said he does not have a history of speaking out about politics or participating in protests; rather, he just posts pictures of his family.

Crayk said he’s learned through court filings that the government is using AI technology to locate any criminal activity amongst student visa holders and revoke their visas. He said this is being done without human cross-references.

China has gone over 70 days without importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, according to Kpler data cited by the Financial Times. This move is a response to Beijing’s imposition of 49% tariffs, making U.S. LNG commercially unviable. The last shipment arrived on February 6, while a second vessel was diverted to Bangladesh to avoid the tariffs.

Although the U.S. supplies only 5-6% of China’s LNG (5-6 million tons in 2025), the halt affects 13 contracts valid through 2049 and threatens 28 million tons per year in U.S. projects. Experts like Anne-Sophie Corbeau (Columbia University) predict that China will avoid new contracts with the U.S., prioritizing energy autonomy.

Beijing has quadrupled its imports of Russian LNG since 2022, making Moscow its third-largest supplier after Australia and Qatar. Ambassador Zhang Hanhui confirmed that Chinese companies are seeking to expand agreements with Russia, taking advantage of lower prices following European sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

China redirects 70% of imported U.S. LNG to Europe, profiting in higher-priced markets. This maneuver demonstrates China’s ability to reshape global energy flows, while the U.S. faces risks in key projects and a reciprocal tariff escalation (up to 245% in some sectors).

https://xcancel.com/DropSiteNews/status/1912928977057898552

https://www.ft.com/content/628b404b-2a24-4853-8f3c-9caad408ef8f

https://archive.is/0fMdS

Is this good? My main concern is the Ukronazi freaks who probably won't want to adhere to a ceasefire.

https://archive.ph/NCKRc

Nice little encapsulation of the boomers still lording over us giving the finger to younger people fighting for their lives.

My dad loves Carville and thinks he's one of the smartest men alive

https://xcancel.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/1913325124394090873

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xset8ptMk0&t=600

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/us/politics/abrego-garcia-chris-van-hollen-el-salvador.html

https://archive.is/sxMQd