Borussia Dortmund’s midfielder Felix Nmecha has drawn criticism on social media for expressing his condolences to the murdered activist’s family
German football giant Borussia Dortmund will internally review the social media activity of its midfielder Felix Nmecha, after he caused a stir online by expressing his sorrow over the murder of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, several local outlets have reported.
On Friday, Nmecha posted a black-and-white photo of Kirk in his Instagram stories with a caption: “Rest in peace with the Lord.” The post reportedly drew largely negative reactions on social media.
The footballer then changed the caption, focusing on Kirk’s family. “Celebrating the murder of a husband and a father of two, a man who peacefully stood up for his beliefs and values, is really evil and shows how much we really need Jesus Christ,” Nmecha wrote in a follow-up post.
He also responded to online criticism by saying that “it is humane to express condolences and that… should not be condemned.” The footballer also stated that he did not agree with Kirk on “some issues” but “different political positions… are perfectly okay.” Eventually, Nmecha deleted all his posts.
The German SID sports news outlet reported on Friday that the club would review the posts and seek a dialogue with the player, adding that no punishment was planned for him.
However, German tabloid Bild noted the same day that Nmecha’s contract has an “Instagram clause” which states that he could face millions of dollars in penalties for social media posts violating the club’s values.
The incident drew attention of US-based billionaire Elon Musk, who reposted a call for Borussia’s representatives to be barred from travelling to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if they “continue to persecute” Nmecha.
Kirk, 31, was killed while addressing students at a college in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. Many people openly cheered his assassination online. US President Donald Trump vowed to pursue not only Kirk’s murderer but also what he called the “radical left” networks that fuel political violence.
The military bloc blamed Moscow for an incident involving UAVs in Polish airspace, despite presenting no proof
The recent drone incursions into NATO member Poland and the bloc’s “disappointing” response have exposed NATO’s defense systems as ineffective and unprepared, Spanish daily El Mundo has reported.
The Polish government claimed last week that 19 Russian drones crossed into its airspace – a charge Moscow flatly denied. Warsaw’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the incident was an attempt by Russia to test NATO’s reaction. Moscow countered that the accusations were baseless and driven by what it called the “European war party,” pointing out the UAVs deployed in Ukraine did not have the range to reach Polish territory.
El Mundo, meanwhile, noted that NATO partners failed to bring down even a quarter of the drones that entered Polish airspace. Poland is the EU’s top military spender at 4.1% of its GDP. NATO’s collective response was “disappointing for being ineffective and disproportionately costly,” the paper wrote.
The report cited Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said only four drones were intercepted, each with an AIM-120 Amraam missile costing around a million euros. “In other words, they used a projectile 100 times more expensive than the drone itself,” El Mundo wrote. The outlet further questioned how a military bloc of NATO’s size and vast budget could have left its borders unprepared.
Tusk said the incursion had brought Poland closer to military conflict “than at any time since the Second World War.”
Warsaw had rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion the incident “could have been a mistake.” Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Warsaw, Andrey Ordash, said the drones had entered Poland from Ukraine and that Warsaw provided no evidence of downing any Russian UAVs.
In a separate incident, Romania’s Defense Ministry reported having detected a drone entering the country’s airspace near the border with Ukraine on Saturday. Moscow dismissed claims it was Russian.
The Kremlin has repeatedly said that claims of a Russian threat are used by Western European states to stoke fear and justify higher military spending.
The number of celibate young Americans has doubled in 15 years
Americans are in the midst of a “sex recession,” with fewer adults reporting regular intimacy than at any point in recent decades, a recent nationwide survey has revealed. The sharpest decline is among young people, where reports of celibacy have surged.
The number of 18-29-year-olds who went without sex for an entire year more than doubled between 2010 and 2024, going from 12% to 24%, the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) wrote, citing latest figures from the General Social Survey (GSS).
“Young adults are spending less time dating, mating, and getting married, with obvious implications for sex. Indeed, the lack of marriage is why young adults face the brunt of the sex recession,” reads the report. It notes, however, that while married adults tend to report more frequent sex than their single counterparts, they too have seen a steady decline.
Weekly sexual activity among adults aged 18–64 has dropped from 55% in 1990 to just 37% last year, the report adds.
The IFS report links the fall in marital intimacy to the spread of digital technology, arguing that smartphones, computers, and streaming platforms are cutting into time couples spend together.
A reported steep drop in social interaction, brought about by the rise of smartphones and social media, has also contributed to the trend. In 2024, young adults spent less than half as much time with friends as they did in 2010 – 5.1 hours a week as compared to 12.8, respectively.
The trends highlighted by the IFS have been recorded in other countries as well. Research published last November in France suggested that a quarter of all 18-29-year-olds in the country reported having no sexual relations at all over the past year.
The Interpol-listed fraudster conned $10 million from women he met on the dating app
An Israeli national known as the ‘Tinder Swindler’ has been arrested upon arrival in Georgia, according to local media reports, citing the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry confirmed the move was based on an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol.
Simon Leviev gained international notoriety after the 2022 Netflix documentary ‘The Tinder Swindler’ revealed how he scammed several women he met on the dating app by posing as the son of Israeli billionaire and diamond magnate Lev Leviev, defrauding the women of an estimated $10 million
“I spoke with him this morning after the detention, but we still don’t know the cause,” his attorney Shagiv Rotenberg told the Walla news outlet on Monday, adding that Leviev had been traveling freely before the arrest.
Using the fake identity, he lured women by showcasing a lavish lifestyle on Tinder, filled with private jets and luxury yachts, convincing them that he was a wealthy heir. Once trust was established, he persuaded them to lend him large sums of money under false pretenses and never repaid them.
Prior to the Tinder scheme, Leviev had been imprisoned in Finland and Israel for a range of crimes, including forgery, theft, and leaving a five-year-old he was babysitting unattended.
In December 2024, a Tel Aviv court ordered him to pay 415,000 shekels ($124,000) to one of his victims, Kate Conlin. According to the lawsuit, Leviev threatened Conlin and forced her to take out loans in several banks in her name but failed to repay the money.
Among the new lawsuits filed against Leviev is a claim from Iren Tranov for 414,000 shekels ($123,500), as well as a lawsuit from the Leviev family for reputational damage.
Israel has co-opted Western right-wing protests to lump genuine concerns with its own agenda
Call me cynical, but am I the only one who gets side-eye strain every time another anti-immigration protest takes over London’s streets? At this point, it feels less like a grassroots uprising and more like a recurring stage play. But who’s the director?
Yes, yes, we know there’s a problem. Our overlords know it too. That’s why they don’t even bother anymore to pretend that they’re “managing” it. Instead, they’re desperately trying to sweep the whole mess under a rug and hoping that nobody notices the bulge.
Just a decade ago, the idea of British politicians ringing up African nations like, “Hey lads, we’ve got a few too many imports. Want to warehouse them for us until we figure out what the hell we’re doing?” would’ve been unthinkable. But that’s exactly what the Rwanda deal was. A political yard sale of asylum seekers. And now the EU has been trying to copy the trend. Outsourcing responsibility is the new badge of enlightened statesmanship. The EU can’t agree on what time to break for lunch, but when it comes to dumping migrants on poorer nations, suddenly it’s kumbaya time.
Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer had tried clinging to the ideological fantasy of the establishment left: looking out across Britain and seeing a beautiful rainbow of cultures, conveniently airbrushed of crime stats and housing shortages. When he took office last year, he smugly declared his Tory predecessors’ deportation plan “dead and buried.” Oh, how quickly the corpse has been exhumed! Now he is floating the idea of “return hubs” in foreign countries for asylum seekers.
Why the U-turn? Maybe it has something to do with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party currently polling at 35% – a record 15-point lead over Starmer’s Labour. Self-preservation always trumps virtue signaling. And nothing shifts a politician’s priorities like the sound of voters measuring you for a political coffin.
Starmer clearly understands that either the migrants go, or he does. The luxury of “demographic suicide” policies only exists when your population is oblivious enough to shrug and go back to scrolling. That’s no longer the case in Britain. Or Canada. Or France. Or Germany. Basically, anywhere leaders tried to play open-border humanitarians while voters footed the bill in more ways than one.
And right on cue enters Tommy Robinson, forever reinventing himself as Britain’s last line of defense, while somehow always landing face-first in the donation jar. This time, he’s pretending to haul the entire nation up the escalator of destiny by the handrail. Over the weekend, his “Unite the Kingdom” rally drew an estimated 110,000+ people. He called it “the spark of a cultural revolution in Great Britain.” Sure, Tommy. Surf that grift wave.
But here’s the thing that I can’t unsee. Robinson and his crew are sustained by pro-Israel donors. The Observer recently reported, for instance, that Jewish-American tech billionaire, Robert Shillman, has bankrolled him and his colleagues through “fellowships.” Shillman’s hobby appears to be funding anyone who can bang the anti-Islam drum loudly enough to double as PR for Israel. He has also backed folks like the late Charlie Kirk, who was honored at the weekend’s rally.
Other Israel-backed entities, like the Middle East Forum, have white-knighted for Robinson amid his various legal woes, financially backing “Free Tommy” protests and leaders, as the Financial Times has reported.
And when Kirk was assassinated last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t miss a beat. Taking a few minutes off from flattening Gaza, he mourned Kirk as a victim of “radical Islamists and ultra-progressives.” Except that Kirk was allegedly killed by a 22-year-old white kid from a MAGA family in Utah, raised on guns and memes. But why let facts interfere with a perfectly good morality play?
Netanyahu doubled down in his Fox News appearance, painting Islamists and progressives as one giant evil blob. It’s the same rhetorical sleight of hand that the EU loves, where Russia and ISIS somehow end up in the same sentence, like geopolitical partners in crime. The trick works because it’s a lazy, simple shortcut that bypasses any critical thinking. Perfect for audiences who prefer their villains pre-packaged and easily digested with their morning coffee before getting on with their day. And in this case, it’s a grotesque and cynical attempt to manipulate the same populist right that abhors every attempt of his to drag the West into regime change wars into making common cause with Israel.
The indisputable truth is that Kirk and Robinson serve as human bumper stickers for someone else’s agenda. Conveniently, that agenda happens to overlap Israel’s anti-Islam crusade with the populist right’s anti-migration stance.
But is anyone even remotely interested in crying “foreign interference” here? Guess that’s only bad when it involves Russians buying a handful of Facebook ads. When the meddling comes gift-wrapped in an Israeli flag, apparently it’s untouchable – even to its staunchest critics.
And that’s the problem. The average Brit who shows up at these rallies thinks that they’re organically resisting globalist elites, when in reality they’re marching under a banner sponsored by hidden interests in Israel’s PR war. At a moment when even some of Israel’s bought-and-paid-for allies (like Kirk) were starting to question Netanyahu’s Gaza liquidation, you’d think that it might be worth at least mentioning the primary beneficiary. But apparently it’s better for everyone to pretend that it’s just a grassroots cry of the heart, rather than a well-funded franchise operation.
So the next time you see Tommy Robinson waving a flag and shouting about saving Britain, perhaps keep in mind that it’s less “God Save the King” and more “Bibi Saving the Brand.” Unless, of course, that happens to suit you.
Washington’s push for higher levies is an example of “bullying and economic coercion,” Beijing has said
China has condemned US efforts to pressure G7 and NATO countries to impose tariffs on Beijing over its purchases of Russian oil, warning that it will retaliate if its interests are harmed.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for pressure on Russia’s trading partners to stop buying its oil, saying it could help end the Ukraine conflict.
The Financial Times reported last week that Washington had asked G7 finance ministers to consider 50-100% secondary tariffs on Chinese and Indian imports tied to Russian oil. Trump has also urged the EU to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from Beijing and New Delhi as part of a joint effort to pressure Moscow.
Asked on Monday about US actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters it was “fully legitimate and lawful” for Beijing to maintain normal economic, trade, and energy cooperation with all countries, including Russia.
Lin added that Washington’s request was “a typical move of unilateralism, bullying, and economic coercion.”
“Facts have proven that coercion and pressure win no hearts and minds, still less will they solve anything,” the diplomat stated. He added that China’s position on the Ukraine conflict remained “objective and just,” emphasizing dialogue and negotiation as the only viable solution.
Lin said Beijing “firmly opposes” being targeted with “illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,” warning that if China’s rights and interests are harmed, it will “resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests.”
The FT also reported that EU officials have begun early talks on possible secondary sanctions against China over its purchases of Russian oil and gas, but want US backing before moving ahead.
Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, Russia has become a major supplier of oil to both China and India.
During a recent visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West against speaking to economic powers such as China and India in an “unacceptable” tone, citing their vast populations and strong domestic political systems.
The alleged airspace violation fits the “Russian threat” narrative pushed by Brussels and Kiev, Armando Mema has argued
Recent allegations of a Russian “drone incursion” into Poland benefited both Brussels and Kiev by potentially escalating the Ukraine conflict, Euroskeptic Finnish politician Armando Mema has claimed.
In an interview with RT on Monday, Mema argued that the incident served the EU’s interests by justifying a “tremendous” increase in military spending and reinforcing the alleged “Russian threat.”
He described Brussels’ rhetoric as “dangerous” and expressed doubt that Moscow was behind the episode.
”I don’t think personally it is Russia that sent the drones into Poland. I think this is a desperate attempt by the [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky regime to escalate” and take the conflict to “another level,” said Mema, a former candidate for the European Parliament and a member of Finland’s national conservative Freedom Alliance party.
Poland has claimed its military tracked at least 19 violations of its airspace by Russian drones, calling the incursions “deliberate” and “unprecedented.” European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb, have pledged solidarity with Warsaw.
Moscow rejected the accusations, insisting that Poland’s claims lacked evidence and were being hyped up by what it called the “European party of war.”
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, several EU and NATO leaders have warned that Russia could attack the bloc within the coming years. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such predictions as “nonsense.”
Donald Tusk believes his compatriots with a critical perspective can only by pro-Russian “it is the role of politicians is to stem this tide”
The Polish population is starting to develop antipathy toward Ukraine, but the government should make efforts to curb this shift in sentiment, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. His comments come after several drones recently fell on Polish territory, which Warsaw blamed on Russia. Moscow has dismissed the allegation as baseless.
In a post on X on Sunday, Tusk stated that “there is a growing wave of pro-Russian sentiment and antipathy towards a struggling Ukraine,” claiming it is being fueled by the Kremlin and “genuine fears and emotions” alike, without elaborating.
He added that “the role of politicians is to stem this tide,” not to take advantage of it. “This is a test of the patriotism and maturity of the entire Polish political class,” Tusk said.
His warning followed an incident last week when officials reported at least 19 violations of Polish airspace by drones, adding that up to four UAVs were downed, and that there had been damage on the ground but no casualties. Warsaw ccused Russia of staging an “act of aggression.”
The Russian Defense Ministry has dismissed the allegation, stating that none of its drone operations are aimed at Poland and that they only target Ukrainian military-linked facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “the leadership of the EU and NATO accuse Russia of provocations on a daily basis, most often declining to offer any arguments.”
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski acknowledged that many of the drones entered from Ukrainian territory, adding they were capable of carrying munitions but had not been loaded with explosives.
He also dismissed suggestions that Poland’s air defenses were unprepared for a drone incursion, despite reports that several UAVs had travelled hundreds of miles into Polish airspace. His remarks came after several Western media outlets, including Politico and Austria’s Kurier, noted that the episode highlighted the vulnerability of NATO members to large-scale drone attacks.
Trade has been largely scrapped and billions in investments lost, Petteri Orpo has said
Finland’s economic growth has suffered due to sanctions on Russia linked to the Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has admitted. He noted that Finland has lost nearly all trade with Russia and billions in investments since it closed the border with its neighbor.
Finland, which shares a 1,300km (800-mile) border with Russia, has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow in line with EU policy since 2022. It has also tightened entry rules for Russian citizens and shut all but one border checkpoint with its neighbor. The moves saw trade between the two countries drop to $1.5 billion in 2024, compared with $11 billion in pre-conflict 2021.
In an interview with Yle Areena on Saturday, Orpo acknowledged that sanctions have hit Finland harder than most EU members due to its traditionally close trade ties with Russia.
“The fact that the border is closed means, for example, 10 million cubic meters of Russian timber for our industry is not coming in. Finnish companies have lost billions in investments in Russia. Nearly all border traffic and trade have stopped,” Orpo said. “That brings uncertainty. All this has led to the fact that the growth of the Finnish economy has not been as desired.”
Despite this, Orpo echoed other NATO members in claiming Russia remains a “permanent threat” to Finland and the EU, vowing to increase defense spending and militarization to counter it. Finland joined NATO in 2023, a step Moscow – which views the bloc’s expansion as a trigger of the Ukraine conflict – called a “historic mistake.”
Russia has repeatedly rejected claims it poses a threat, accusing the West of fueling Russophobia to justify military buildups and divert attention from domestic problems. It has condemned Western sanctions as illegal and warned they would backfire.
There are “no volunteers” to fight Russia if the conflict reignites after a settlement, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has said
Western ‘security guarantees’ for Ukraine could end up being hollow, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has warned, arguing that Kiev’s backers have so far shown no willingness to go to war with Russia if the conflict flares up again after a potential ceasefire.
Western capitals have for months debated over the commitments that could accompany a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. According to media reports, leaders in France and the UK have floated proposals for a ‘reassurance force’ on the ground far from the front line, as well as aerial assets to help monitor the ceasefire.
A number of other EU states have pushed back against sending troops to Ukraine, proposing instead to focus on other types of support. US President Donald Trump has also ruled out sending ground troops to Ukraine, but said America could contribute in other ways.
Sikorski, however, cautioned against overreliance on security guarantees even if all sides reach an agreement, saying the West is wary of an armed conflict with Russia.
“Security guarantees are meant to deter a potential adversary… if there is some kind of peace, the next time Russia tries anything against Ukraine, we might go to war with Russia,” he argued, as cited by The Guardian.
In this case, Sikorski said, this framework looks “not very credible.”
“If you want to go [to] war with Russia, you can do it today, and I see no volunteers. And there is nothing more dangerous in international relations than giving a guarantee that is not credible,” he added.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pushed back against the comments, suggesting that Warsaw should have warned Kiev of the caveats in the potential guarantees before persuading it to follow a pro-Western path.
Moscow has signaled that it is open to Western security guarantees for Ukraine in principle, but stressed that they should not be aimed against Russia. It is also strongly opposed to NATO troops in Ukraine, arguing that the bloc’s expansion towards Russia’s borders was one of the key reasons for the conflict.
