The big question on Ukraine: is Trump ready to push Putin into peace? | Shaun Walker
Russian leader’s antagonism to Zelenskyy and lack of interest in a ceasefire leaves colossal task for US
On paper, everyone is in agreement: Donald Trump says he wants a ceasefire; Kyiv’s negotiating team has already agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal at marathon talks with the Americans in Jeddah; and Vladimir Putin says he accepts the idea, albeit with a few “nuances”.
But Putin’s so-called nuances are bigger than mere wrinkles, and at the end of an intense week of diplomacy around Russia’s war in Ukraine, a ceasefire – never mind a sustainable peace – still looks to be something of a distant prospect.
Continue reading...Rocket blasts off to bring stranded US astronauts home from the ISS at long last
Launched by Nasa and SpaceX, the Falcon 9 is picking up Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, whose eight days on board the International Space Station became nine months
A long-awaited mission to return stranded US astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station has been launched by Nasa and SpaceX.
The pair were due to spend eight days on the ISS in June, but technical problems with the experimental spacecraft that took them there have left them stuck on the orbital laboratory for nine months.
Continue reading...Serbians stage huge protest in Belgrade against their president
Farmers and bikers join students in climax to movement that Aleksandar Vučić labels an ‘imported revolution’
A vast demonstration has been gathering in Belgrade, marking the climax of more than four months of student-led protests and the biggest challenge to President Aleksandar Vučić in the 11 years of his increasingly autocratic rule.
Vučić stoked tensions in the run-up to yesterday’s mass protest, suggesting there would be an attempt to overthrow him by force and calling it an “imported revolution” with the involvement of western intelligence agencies, but he provided no evidence for the claims. The demonstrations against government corruption and incompetence have so far been overwhelmingly peaceful.
Continue reading...Deadly storms kill at least 17 across three US states
Eleven people are dead in Missouri, and Arkansas declares a state of emergency after three killed.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 9, including aid workers and journalists – NPR
- Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 9, including aid workers and journalists NPR
- Israel kills at least nine Palestinians, including journalists, in Gaza Al Jazeera English
- Aid workers killed in Israeli air strike in Gaza, charity tells BBC BBC.com
- Israeli air strike kills nine in Gaza, local ministry says, during ceasefire disputes Reuters
- Israel Keeps Up Attacks in Gaza Despite Truce The New York Times
Israel kills at least nine Palestinians, including journalists, in Gaza
The attack targets a relief team in the north of the enclave that was accompanied by journalists and photographers.
Arlington Cemetery strips content on black and female veterans from website
The Army-run cemetery said it is working to follow Trump's orders on ending diversity while restoring information.
Israeli airstrikes ‘kill nine’ as Hamas restates Gaza ceasefire demands
Militant group hardening its negotiating position in ceasefire talks amid new violence in territory
The current fragile pause in hostilities in Gaza has come under further threat with Hamas hardening its negotiating positions amid new Israeli airstrikes in the devastated territory.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended two weeks ago but Israel is refusing to implement the scheduled second phase, which is supposed to end with its withdrawal from Gaza, the freedom of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and a definitive end to the conflict.
Continue reading...Military planning for Ukraine peace moves to ‘operational phase’, says Starmer – BBC.com
- Military planning for Ukraine peace moves to 'operational phase', says Starmer BBC.com
- Keir Starmer's ad hoc alliance could still struggle to materialise BBC.com
- Trump’s right, Putin can take the hard or easy way on Ukraine. He has to prove he wants peace | David Lammy The Guardian
- Starmer: ‘Sooner or later’ Russia must yield to peace Voice of America
- Ukraine allies plan meeting of military chiefs next week POLITICO Europe
Military planning for Ukraine peace to begin, says Starmer
Military chiefs will meet on Thursday to discuss practical plans to ensure Ukraine's security.
Syrians mark revolution anniversary with roses, songs and tight security
Syrian flags and revolutionary songs fill the streets on a day of celebrating hope and sacrifice.
Aid workers killed in Israeli air strike in Gaza, charity tells BBC
The Israeli military says it was targeting terrorists who "posed a threat to Israeli troops".
UK-led ad hoc alliance to help Ukraine may struggle to materialise
After a summit of Ukraine's allies, the PM's coalition is still a somewhat nebulous undertaking.
Trump sharpens attacks on US media as Voice of America employees put on administrative leave
President denounced CNN and MSNBC as ‘illegal’ and instructed VoA’s parent agency to be eliminated
Donald Trump expanded on his threats to the media on Friday, suggesting actions of the press should be deemed illegal and subject to investigation.
“I believe that CNN and MS-DNC, who literally write 97.6% bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat [sic] party and in my opinion, they’re really corrupt and they’re illegal, what do they do is illegal,” the president said during a contentious speech at the Department of Justice.
Continue reading...Huge power outage in Cuba leaves millions in darkness
Latest grid collapse follows a string of nationwide blackouts in recent months.
Netanyahu to hold talks as Hamas officials say Gaza talks have ‘failed’ – The Jerusalem Post
- Netanyahu to hold talks as Hamas officials say Gaza talks have 'failed' The Jerusalem Post
- Netanyahu holds discussions on Gaza ceasefire as talks with Hamas appear deadlocked The Times of Israel
- Israel-Hamas Talks Deadlocked as Trump Envoy Turns to Ukraine The New York Times
- Updates: US proposes ‘bridge’ to extend ceasefire in Gaza Al Jazeera English
- Mediators seek to break Gaza ceasefire deadlock Vatican News - English
Ahmed al-Sharaa is “inheriting a nightmare situation”
“Remember, scholars were saying Syria was on the verge of becoming a failed state.”
UK’s Starmer says coalition to beef up Ukraine security in any peace deal
British PM Starmer highlights 'robust' security plans for Ukraine, proposing deployment in case of a peace deal.
Elon Musk faces week of harsh setbacks amid Tesla selloff and Doge backlash
After a SpaceX rocket exploded, investors offloaded Tesla shares and Doge hit legal roadblocks, the world’s richest man saw his fortune sink by $100bn
Elon Musk began the week of 10 March with a friendly sit-down interview on Fox Business to talk about his work with the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) and the state of his businesses. Already, it had been a trying few days for the world’s richest man, who was facing a Tesla stock selloff and fierce backlash over his attempts to radically overhaul the federal government. His net worth declined over $22bn on Monday alone.
After Musk jokingly brushed off initial questions about the mounting pressure, host Larry Kudlow asked the Tesla and SpaceX CEO how he was managing to run his numerous companies amid the chaos.
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