Trump insists Putin wants peace. But the war is raging – and Ukrainian civilians are dying
When emergency workers arrived at the home of Tetyana Kulyk and her husband Pavlo Ivanchov shortly after it was hit by a Russian drone on Wednesday, all they could do was recover their charred bodies. Kulyk, a renowned Ukrainian journalist, and Ivanchov, a surgeon and university professor, were killed when the drone hit their home just north of Kyiv. Neighbors told Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne they heard screams and tried to enter the burning home through the garage, only to discover the whole house had turned into an impassable inferno.
5 key takeaways from a frenetic weekend of Ukraine diplomacy
It was a weekend for the history books. What began with US President Donald Trump furiously berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House ended with a show of European unity in London and vows to wrestle negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war away from the US. Here are five key takeaways from a public bust-up that has profound implications for Washington’s relationship with some of its strongest allies:
Selena Gomez’s Oscars look was made with over 16,000 drops of glass
Selena Gomez is no stranger to old Hollywood glamour, having wowed awards season with a succession of stunningly chic retro-inspired outfits. At Sunday’s Oscars, the “Emilia Perez” star opted for another classic look, arriving on the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder custom Ralph Lauren number with an impressive detail: over 16,000 drops of glass and hand-sewn Rosemont crystals arranged into a lattice pattern. The dress was made by a team of 12 Italian artisans who airbrushed the glass to achieve a pink ombré finish that shimmered with each movement.
Ex-FIFA and UEFA chiefs Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini return to court to face corruption charge
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and France soccer great Michel Platini are due to appear in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud – two-and-a-half years after they were cleared. Both men, once among the most senior figures in global soccer, were acquitted in 2022 at a lower Swiss court following a seven-year investigation into a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.22 million) to Platini. The Swiss federal prosecutor has appealed against that decision, leading to a new hearing at the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, near Basel.
A weekend of fire and ice: China’s east hit by snow blizzards and record heat
Massive snowstorms and record heat hit eastern China over the weekend, with residents of one province wrapping up against driving snow and their compatriots down the coast heading outdoors to enjoy ice cream. Blizzards on Sunday swept across the eastern province of Shandong, south of Beijing, with snow piling up to 13 centimeters (5.1 inches) deep in some areas, according to state-run outlet the Global Times. Photos from provincial capital Jinan showed residents bundled up in thick coats and boots, workers shoveling snow from roads, and parks boasting newly-built snowmen.
Palestinians were living under occupation before the war. A Palestinian and an Israeli united to show the world their reality
Midway through the documentary “No Other Land,” journalist and activist Basel Adra recounts a 2009 visit to his village by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. In a navy suit and crisp tie, surrounded by security detail and photographers, Blair walked through the village for seven minutes, Adra says in a voice-over. He visits the local school, Adra says. He passes by Adra’s family’s home. He nods along to something someone says off camera, the footage shows. He shakes a hand. He smiles.
‘A crossroads in history’: Europe seeks to take control of Ukraine negotiations at pivotal London summit
The West is at a “crossroads in history,” Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer told European leaders at a pivotal summit in London on Sunday, as the continent sought to wrestle control of negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war away from the US and present a united front amid a meltdown in relations between Kyiv and Washington. ”This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act,” Starmer said after a monumental day of diplomacy in London, which saw leaders on the continent attempt to forge a path towards a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Pope Francis is in stable condition but ‘risk of crisis’ remains, Vatican sources say
Pope Francis is in stable condition and does not have a fever, the Vatican said on Sunday, days after he suffered from a sudden respiratory episode in hospital where he has been battling double pneumonia. While there are currently no direct impacts to Pope Francis’ health from the respiratory episode on Friday, doctors are continuing to guard the pope’s prognosis, according to Vatican sources Sunday who said the “picture is still complex” and that the “risk of crisis” remains. The 88-year-old pontiff suffered a sudden episode of respiratory difficulty on Friday, which was complicated by vomiting, and required high-flow oxygen through a mask to help him breathe. He was not intubated, a Vatican source told CNN at the time.
Israel says it will block aid going into Gaza until Hamas agrees to ceasefire extension
Israel said Sunday it has stopped the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas agrees to a US-backed extension of the ceasefire deal, after phase one of the deal expired on Saturday. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he backed a US proposal to temporarily extend the current ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday Passover, which envisions half the hostages held in Gaza being released on the day the deal begins. Hamas, which is seeking Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, immediately rejected the plan, saying that Netanyahu and his government was carrying out “a blatant coup against the ceasefire deal” that had already been agreed.
Trump and Zelensky’s fiery exchange underlines US pivot to Russia
To seasoned diplomatic observers, US President Donald Trump’s furious dressing down of Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was a planned political mugging, a trap set by the Trump administration to discredit the Ukrainian leader and remove him as an obstacle to whatever comes next. Whether it was orchestrated or not, Moscow – which reacted with glee to the White House slanging match – is now anticipating talks aimed at rebuilding the US-Russia relationship will continue, even accelerate, in the weeks ahead. Nothing has been announced in public. But, privately, there’s talk of the Trump-Putin summit, always on the cards, now being fast-tracked.