Russia
Ukraine War: Trump, Putin To Meet Next Week
American President, Donald Trump, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Viktor Putin, are due to meet soon on the protracted Russian / Ukraine War.
The meeting, the first between the two world leaders since Trump began his second term of office on January 20 this year, may hold as early as next week, according to a Russian presidential aide.
News of the meeting comes against the backdrop of the threat by Trump to impose stifling sanctions on Russia if it fails to strike a ceasefire deal with Ukraine within a specified period.
That period, initially fixed at 50 days, was eventually reduced to 10, and is due to run full cycle on August 8, 2025.
But ahead of its expiry, an aide to Putin on Foreign Relations confirmed today that both leaders are due to meet soon.
The aide, for obvious reasons, did not give details but said that a venue had been agreed and that preparations were already kicking in.
There was no immediate reaction to the news of the imminent meeting between the two leaders from Ukraine, which has persistently called for stiff sanctions on Russia to compel it to agree to a ceasefire and an end to its three- year war on its smaller neighbour.
However, the development comes strong on the heels of a meeting between the Russian leader and the American Secretary of State and envoy of Trump, Steve Witkoff, which was concluded recently in Moscow.
Details of the talks at the meeting were not divulged , though the Russian government described it as constructive.
Trump, who had boasted during his presidential campaign to end the war in 24 hours, is struggling to hammer out a deal between Ukraine and its nuclear power neighbour, Russia.
Moscow invaded Ukraine three years ago, in an effort to wean it of its Pro- Western inclination.
Since then, both countries have been locked in a titanic conflict that has cost tens of thousands of human casualties .
Russia has either full or partial control of four regions of Ukraine, and is grinding out further footholds in the Eastern parts of the country.
Outgunned and outnumbered, Ukraine is largely dependent on its Western allies for military and humanitarian support to ward off Russian battlefield advances.
By official accounts, Ukraine has received in excess of $350billion worth of military and humanitarian aid since the war started after the Russian invasion.
Like Russia, America is a nuclear weapon state.
Other nuclear weapon states are China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel, the last two of which are regarded as rogue nuclear states, meaning unofficial nuclear weapon states.
Russia is believed to have the single largest stock of nuclear weapons in the world, with stocks estimated to be more than the holdings of the other nuclear states combined.
America
Trump’s Tariff Policy Kicks In
The policy of stiff tariffs on goods entering the United States of America has come into effect.
The policy was initiated by the Trump Presidency which said it was to address the undercut of America’s interest in global trade.
The tariff regimes, the single biggest by size and spread, are reputed to be the highest in global records over the past 100 years.
A handsome number of countries- in excess of 100 at the last count- are affected, with Brazil and India most impacted.
Both countries are under the yoke of a 50 per cent tariff regime, India for allegedly trading with under- ban Russia, and Brazil for the alleged witch hunt of its former President and Trump ally.
But Canada , like Brazil and India, has largely discredited the unilateral tariffs and all three are reportedly eyeing alternative markets for their export products.
India
Crash Victims Relatives Claim Wrong Remains Handed To Them
Some relatives of victims of the recent deadly Indian Plane crash that killed more than 140 persons have alleged that they were given the incorrect remains of their dead relations.
Some told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) today that the government officials had handed them the wrong remains of their dead relations.
The development initially caused uproar but some of the cases have now been corrected, following complaints.
The plane, a 787 jet liner, crashed into a hostel for medical doctors who were in the area having a meal, just after take off.
It was destined for Gatwick Airport London, but never made it as it crashed, killing all on board, except one, and many more on the ground.
Initial investigation report indicates that the plane lost altitude, probably due to the stil mysterious shutdown of its two fuel supply lines.
Israel
Israeli PM, Netanyahu, Meets Today with Security Cabinet On Gaza Occupation Plan
Israel ‘s Security Cabinet is due to meet later today in a crucial session expected to focus on his controversial plan to occupy the embattled enclave of Gaza.
The plan has drawn the ire of most global leaders, the Israeli public and many of its former security chiefs who warned that it was too risky to dare.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has also diplomatically advised against the wholesale occupation of the enclave, saying it would inflame global opinion against Israel and do little to whittle Palestinian resistance to Israel ‘s policies against them.
But Netanyahu, just like his far right extremist supporters in his coalition government, says it is the only way to secure Israel against Hamas, the militant group it tags as terrorists and which launched the 0ctober 7, 2023 assault on Israel that led to the death and abduction of more than 1,200 Israeli soldiers, policemen and civilians.
But not a few disagree with him, saying the move could yield an extreme variant of his stated expected result.
Israel already has a controversial policy of occupation, annexation and large -scale destruction of Palestinian lands, including Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
