The Trump administration hopes to save a lot of money by phasing out the penny

The Trump administration hopes to save a lot of money by phasing out the penny. The Treasury Department has placed its final order for blank pennies and plans to

The Trump administration is planning to phase out the penny, a move that could help save the government a lot of money but may require some changes for consumers at the checkout line.

The Treasury Department has now placed its final order for blank pennies and plans to stop making them once that supply runs out, according to a Treasury spokeswoman.

The move, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is expected to result in immediate savings of $56 million a year.

Each coin costs about four cents to produce, while their face value is only one cent.

The statement from the Treasury Department also said that one-cent coins will remain legal tender.

This is fortunate since there are more than a billion dollars’ worth of coins in circulation that are worth that much. However, most are rarely used, gathering dust in coffee cans on dressers and in people’s forgotten pockets, as the Americans say.

Their gradual removal may require stores to round prices up or down to the nearest whole number, although the growing popularity of cashless payments makes this less of a problem. Fewer than one in five payments are made with cash, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

President Trump called for the gradual elimination of the coins in February. Canada, New Zealand and Australia have also eliminated their one-cent coins.

Aftershocks continue in Crete after the earthquake / Tourist areas closed for safety reasons

Aftershocks have continued throughout the day on the Greek island of Crete, following a strong earthquake on Wednesday morning, which also struck a blow to the tourism sector.

The Institute of Geophysics of the National Observatory of Athens reports that a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck at 04:23 on Wednesday, at a depth of 10 kilometers, southeast of the island of Crete.

Aftershocks have continued throughout the day, with two more strong quakes, magnitudes 5.0 and 4.9, reported at around 12:00 and 12:30, respectively.

The epicenter of the main quake was located in an uninhabited area about 150 kilometers southeast of Crete, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Following the main quake, several tourist areas in Crete, including Balos Lagoon and Elafonisi Beach, were closed for safety reasons.

Meetings begin in Belgrade/ Kallas: Serbia's European future depends on the values ​​it chooses to support

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said that Serbia's European future depends on the values ​​it chooses to support.

Speaking at the opening of the 12th Economic and Investment Forum in Belgrade, Kallas highlighted the importance of the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans.

"The European Union stands ready to support the Western Balkans on their respective journeys. But let me be clear: there is no second class membership in the European Union. It is a union of equals, bound by shared values and principles," she said.

Kallas noted that Serbia has made progress in its integration with the EU, but more work needs to be done, particularly in the area of the rule of law.

"We are also deeply concerned by the recent setbacks in media freedom and the online safety legislation, which could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. These developments are particularly troubling at a time when we are seeing an alarming rise in disinformation and hate speech across the continent."

The EU official also discussed the importance of economic cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans.

"The European Union is a major investor in the Western Balkans. In 2022 alone, the EU invested over €7 billion in the region, making it the largest external donor. We are also a key trading partner, with bilateral trade between the EU and the Western Balkans amounting to some €70 billion in 2022."

Kallas said that the EU is committed to helping the Western Balkans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and adapt to the climate crisis.

"We are also working to support the Western Balkans in their efforts to counter terrorism and organized crime."

The EU foreign policy chief concluded by saying that she is confident that the Balkans can play an even greater role in the world in the years to come.

"Together, we can build a better future for all Europeans."

Leo XIV visits the tomb of Saint Paul/ Gives an important message

While visiting the tomb of Saint Paul the Apostle on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV gave a message of hope and unity to the world.

The Holy Father, who is known for his simple and direct style of communication, spoke candidly about the importance of faith in overcoming adversity and the need for people to come together in love and understanding.

Speaking in the presence of a small group of cardinals and bishops, as well as members of the Order of Paulines who care for the basilica, Leo XIV said that the world today is in great need of the