Friday, May 2, 2025

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Wanted to get Swedes to eat insects – now the company is going bankrupt

Published 26 July 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The mealworm venture was not the success Tebrito had hoped for.

Tebrito in Orsa located in middle Sweden wanted to get Swedes to eat insects by producing food from industrially bred mealworms. Despite raising SEK 45 million (€3,84 million)  from investors, the company was unable to get its finances in order and has now been declared bankrupt.

Tebrito was founded in 2016 by Nils Österholm and Åsa Martén. When the Swedish National Food Agency announced just over three years ago that it would approve mealworms as food, many investors thought the company had a bright future. This was not the case.

“The company has worked hard to find a long-term, sustainable financial solution. But despite constructive dialogues with potentially very interesting partners with the aim of scaling up the company, it has unfortunately not been possible to solve the most acute financial situation”, founder Nils Österholm writes in a statement.

As recently as last year, Österholm claimed in an interview with Bonnier-owned DN that he was convinced that insects would soon become a natural part of grocery store shelves.

– One day we will get there. Right now there is a lot going on behind the scenes. It takes time to create a large enough production, to develop the product itself and the marketing, and to get all the approvals, he said.

Impact Loop notes that Mycorena – a company that “would change the entire food industry with its mushroom-based ingredients” – also recently went bankrupt, and that players involved in developing alternative protein sources are in a tough spot right now. This is partly explained by the fact that the summer is a “difficult time to secure capital”.

Last year, Tebrito had sales of SEK 531,000 (€45 200) and a loss of SEK 13.6 million (€1,16 million). Just last month, the company raised SEK 4.1 million (€350 000)  from outside investors – which does not seem to have helped.

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USA signs mineral deal with Ukraine

The war in Ukraine

Published today 10:53
– By Editorial Staff
The newly signed US-Ukraine mineral agreement may be the first sign that the hatchet between Zelensky and Trump is at least temporarily buried.

The US and Ukraine have formally signed a comprehensive mineral agreement that gives Washington access to Ukraine’s strategic mineral resources. The agreement can be seen as a deepening of cooperation between the countries in the wake of the high-profile and aborted meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in February.

On April 30, the US and Ukraine signed an economic partnership agreement that gives the US access to Ukraine’s important mineral reserves, including rare earth metals, reports PBS News.

The agreement also means that the parties will create a joint investment fund to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal describes the agreement as “a strategic deal for the creation of an investment partner fund. This is truly an equal and good international deal on joint investment in the development and restoration of Ukraine between the governments of the United States and Ukraine”.

Trump: Repayment

The fund will be managed jointly with equal voting rights, with both countries contributing to the capital. Revenues from new licenses for critical minerals, oil, and gas will be shared, with 50 percent going to Ukraine’s treasury via the fund.

Donald Trump has described the mineral agreement as an important part of the US’s continued commitment to Ukraine. He has emphasized that the agreement gives the US access to strategic resources and can serve as a form of repayment from Ukraine for the military support Washington has provided to Kiev.

In his speech to the US Congress on March 4, 2025, Trump mentioned the mineral agreement and emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to sign it. He highlighted the importance of the partnership for US national security and stability in the region, without going into details about the content of the agreement.

Difficult negotiations

The agreement has been preceded by lengthy and at times difficult negotiations, in which security guarantees have been a key issue. During a meeting at the White House in February, a planned summit between Trump and Zelensky was abruptly canceled after disagreement over the terms.

Zelensky has emphasized the importance of security guarantees and said that negotiations are ongoing. However, Prime Minister Shmyhal has expressed optimism that the agreement will be signed and that it will strengthen Ukraine’s future.

Ukraine’s mineral resources include 22 of the 50 materials classified as critical by the US Geological Survey, including rare earth metals that are essential for electronics, clean energy technology, and certain weapons systems.

The agreement is also part of the US strategy to reduce dependence on China, which dominates global production of rare earth metals.

In parallel with the agreement, the US and Ukraine have discussed the possibility of including future military support as part of the investment fund, although previous military aid is not covered.

At the time of writing, no official comments from the Kremlin or Moscow have been published in connection with the agreement.

Thousands of Irish protested against the population replacement policy

Population replacement in the West

Published today 7:18
– By Editorial Staff
Many Irish people believe that politicians have ruined the country and must be replaced for change to be achieved.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered in Dublin to honor historic freedom fighters and protest against the ruling political elite and the policies of population replacement that many believe have destroyed Ireland.

A major draw was the outspoken MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who warned that the Irish people are becoming a minority in their own country.

The event was described as a tribute to the 1916 Easter Rising – an attempt to break free from British rule, but which was brutally crushed by the British army and led to the imprisonment and execution of a number of separatists.

According to the organizers, the main purpose of the weekend’s national demonstration was to honor “those who fought and gave their lives to preserve the Irish nation and create the Irish Republic“.

However, it was clear that those gathered did not just want to honor historical heroes – they also wanted to clearly express their dissatisfaction with today’s Irish politicians and how they are treating their own people. Many of the participants carried Irish flags and signs with messages such as “Irish Lives Matter” and “Ireland is Full” – or caps with the text “Make Ireland Great Again.”

Exactly how many people took part in the protests depends on who you ask. Left-wing liberal media reported “thousands” of national demonstrators, while others estimated that over 100,000 people were present.

“Together we rise”

Although he was not part of the organizing group, UFC star Conor McGregor was instrumental in getting so many Irish people to join the protests. In several social media posts that received millions of views, he urged everyone who could to join in and emphasized the importance of remembering history.

– Over 100 years ago, our brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could live free today. So let us remind ourselves why we are here. And also why we are not here, McGregor proclaimed in a widely shared video clip.

– We are not here to build hatred amongst each other. We are not here to sow division. We are here to commemorate the valiant heroes who went before us. We honor their spirit, we honor their fight, he continued.

McGregor believes that the country’s government has failed in most of its endeavors and must be replaced—and that it is therefore necessary for the people to express their dissatisfaction.

– Be respectful, be proud, be united.Because together, we will be heard, and as one, we will be victorious in our mission… Together we rise, together we win. God bless us all and God bless Ireland.

“Spreading destruction in the country”

Despite the presence of a small group of counter-demonstrators, the demonstration is said to have proceeded relatively peacefully, with many children, women, and elderly people also taking part. A selection of photos and video clips from the day can be seen below:

As a curiosity, it is also worth mentioning that Conor McGregor has said that he is considering running in the fall presidential election and although political opponents and some analysts have dismissed his chances, he is immensely popular in many quarters.

On several occasions, he has launched harsh attacks against the Irish government and its mass immigration policy, which he believes has been imposed on the Irish people against their will.

– The illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country, he declared at a press conference in the US, stating that “Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness”.

Swiss journalist: EU representatives fed up with “toxic” von der Leyen

Published 29 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Ursula von Der Leyen has long been a highly criticized figure.

Several high-ranking EU representatives have grown tired of Ursula von der Leyen’s substandard leadership and now want to remove the President of the European Commission.

This is according to Swiss media, which argues that a change in leadership could steer Europe in a much more positive direction again.

Journalist Philipp Gut argues in Die Weltwoche that EU policy is in an “obvious crisis” – with the trade war with the US in the West and the war in Ukraine in the East – while at the same time there is “a protracted and, for Europe, unflattering power struggle with China”.

Internally, there is disagreement, division and constant harassment of member states such as Hungary, which assert their sovereignty and democratic rights. Giorgia Meloni is breaking away from the anti-Trump camp and moving closer to the US president. Relations with rebellious Switzerland are also strained”, he notes, continuing:

As is sometimes brutally expressed: the fish rots from the head down. In this case, the head of the EU is personified by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen”.

Failed in most respects

He points out that von der Leyen has on several occasions opposed the US, not least with regard to the peace process in Ukraine. She has also taken a clear stand against Donald Trump and his opponents in several respects.

All this has a background that hardly speaks for von der Leyen’s diplomatic skills or statesmanship. She interfered in the US presidential election and took a resolute stand for Biden – a diplomatic faux pas with repercussions”, Gut continues.

Philipp Gut believes that von der Leyen has failed time and time again. Photo: Private/FB

He also points out that the economic outlook is bleak and that the EU’s stance toward the US hardly strengthens the Union’s position on trade issues.

Added to this are tendencies toward a surveillance society and continuing problems with respect for democracy. EU diplomats are openly threatening to strip Hungary of its voting rights. Her handling of the coronavirus pandemic has also left deep scars: secret messages and a refusal to provide transparency on agreements concluded behind closed doors have not been forgotten”, he argues.

“A departure could unlock a lot”

According to the journalist, the EU is currently in a “deplorable state” and, if it were a normal state, people would be asking whether it was time to replace its leadership.

But the EU is not a state – let alone a normal one. Nevertheless, there are now voices in diplomatic circles who believe that Ursula von der Leyen has become an increasingly toxic figure. A departure could unlock a lot”, he assesses, concluding:

A change of leadership would at least give European politics the chance to become more diverse and open again – both towards the West and the East. An idea worth reflecting on”.

Pakistan: Indian attack “imminent”

Published 29 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Stock image - a group of Indian soldiers in training.

Tensions between nuclear powers India and Pakistan have escalated further after a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. Pakistan’s defense minister is now warning that an Indian military attack is imminent.

Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned on Monday that an Indian military attack could come very soon, after 26 people were killed in an attack on tourists in the disputed region of Kashmir last week.

– We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So in that situation some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken, Asif said in an interview with Reuters in Islamabad.

The attack has sparked outrage in Hindu-dominated India and led to calls for action against Muslim-dominated Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting militant groups in Kashmir, an area both countries claim and have fought two wars over in the past.

Asif, in turn, accused India of escalating the rhetoric and said that Pakistan’s military had informed the government of the risk of an attack. However, he did not provide any further details as to why he believes an invasion is imminent, and India’s foreign and defense ministries have not commented on the statement.

Concerns about nuclear weapons

After the attack, Indian officials said that two suspects were Pakistani citizens, which Islamabad has denied. Pakistan has demanded a neutral investigation, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to find and punish the attackers.

Asif, who represents the ruling Muslim League-Nawaz party, emphasized that Pakistan is on high alert but that nuclear weapons would only be used if “there is a direct threat to our existence”.

The minister further stated that Islamabad had contacted several allied countries, including Gulf states and China, and informed the US, the UK, and others about the situation.

– Some of our friends in the Arabian Gulf have talked to both sides, Asif said, without mentioning which countries he was referring to.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Photo: Kuhlmann/MSC/CC BY 3.0

On Monday, China expressed hope for restraint and welcomed measures that could defuse the situation. Asif said that the US had so far 2steered clear” of intervening.

“An act of war”

US President Donald Trump said last week that India and Pakistan will handle their relations themselves, but the US State Department has since said that it is in contact with both parties and is calling for a “responsible solution.”

Following the attack, both countries have taken measures against each other. India has suspended the important Indus Water Treaty, a river-sharing agreement that Pakistan considers crucial for water supplies in vulnerable areas.

– Depriving vulnerable areas of water is an act of war, Asif claimed, pointing out that the agreement has survived previous conflicts and has international guarantors.

– We have already gone to relevant quarters as far this treaty is concerned, he added, calling for support from the international community and the World Bank to protect the agreement.

India has also repeated accusations that Pakistan was behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which over 166 people were killed – accusations that Pakistan also denies.

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