Worldnews

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Washington, D.C., on February 26, 2025, where he emphasized that the most important relationship for the UK is with the United States. During his visit, he met with business leaders at the British ambassador’s residence, hosted by Peter Mandelson. Starmer expressed a desire to forge a new partnership with the U.S., sharing the belief that their best days lie ahead. Starmer’s visit also included a meeting with President Donald Trump. Prior to his trip, he called on Washington to provide a security "backstop" for European peacekeepers in Ukraine. He argued that this would ensure lasting peace in Ukraine rather than a temporary ceasefire. Furthermore, Starmer stated that Britain would contribute to any peacekeeping efforts in the region. Overall, the visit highlighted the importance of strengthening the UK-U.S. relationship and advancing international cooperation on global security issues.

US Envoy Meets Zelenskiy Amid Trump Spat – ‘Hope Restored’? | N18G

Amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Kyiv. After Trump called Zelenskiy a "dictator" and pushed for a quick peace deal with Russia, can this meeting mend ties? Zelenskiy says the talks "restore hope," but will Washington and Kyiv find common ground? Stay tuned for key updates!

Trump discusses Ukraine war with Putin and Zelensky, says both leaders want peace | N18G

On February 12, 2025, former President Donald Trump shared that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a desire for peace during separate phone calls. Trump ordered U.S. officials to begin talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The conversations followed comments from Trump’s defense secretary, who suggested that Ukraine might need to abandon its NATO ambitions and give up its territorial goals to reach a resolution, signaling a shift in U.S. policy. Trump spoke with Putin for over an hour and said the Russian leader wants to end the war, discussing a potential ceasefire in the near future. Trump emphasized that both Putin and Zelensky desire peace, and he also expressed his wish for the violence to stop. While Trump has long claimed he could quickly end the war, he has not detailed how he would achieve this peace.

Trump orders U.S. withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council, signs executive order | N18G

President Trump announced that the United States will withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council and stop funding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). This decision follows long-standing US criticism of both bodies for alleged bias against Israel. Trump’s executive orders also call for a review of US participation in UNESCO and its overall funding of the UN, citing concerns over funding disparities. The US is the largest contributor to the UN’s budget, paying 22%. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the UN, urging it to live up to its potential and be fair to certain countries. The US already left the Human Rights Council in 2018 under Trump, and despite Biden's reversal in 2021, the US did not seek re-election for a second term on the council. UNRWA, providing aid to Palestinian refugees, has been a focal point of Israeli criticism, particularly following accusations that some of its staff were linked to Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks.

Trump 2.0 - How Will Trump’s Victory Impact The H-1B Visa Regime? | Indian-American| N18 G

Trump has been vocal about his anti-immigration policies. However, his actions during his previous term suggest we could see even stricter rules when it comes to legal immigration as well. This has significant implications for India, as it is the largest recipient of H1B and L1 visas, and also has the highest number of students in the U.S. The H1B Visa allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers for specialized roles, while the L1 Visa lets companies transfer employees to their U.S. counterparts.

Trump talks up strike on Iranian nuclear facilities

Former president Donald Trump talked up a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities at a North Carolina rally on Friday (October 4). Israel has been weighing options in its response to Iran's ballistic missile attack this week, which Iran had carried out in response to Israel's military action in Lebanon. Also at the North Carolina rally, Trump accused the Biden administration of mishandling hurricane response. Once-in-a-generation floods triggered by Hurricane Helene killed dozens in the state's western mountains, and Trump likened the response to the one following hurricane Katrina. Trump drew cheers from the crowd when he declared that if elected, he would seek to change the name of the state's sprawling military base, Fort Liberty, back to Fort Bragg. The name was changed to Fort Liberty in 2023 to end using its Confederate namesake.

Who is new Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake? What is his stance on India?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday for his victory in the recent Sri Lankan Presidential elections. PM Modi also expressed his desire to work closely with Sri Lanka. In response, Dissanayake thanked Modi for his kind words and shared his commitment to enhancing ties between the two nations. But, who is Anura Kumara Dissanayake?

US Border Patrol And Texas DPS Team Up To Target Human Smugglers

U.S. Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) police are joining forces to target human smugglers who transport undocumented migrants across a stretch of the U.S. southern border. Watch!

G7 strikes provisional deal on using Russian assets for $50-bn Ukraine loan

World leaders have struck a deal to use the profits of frozen Russian assets to secure a loan of "approximately $50 billion" to aid Ukraine financially, according to a declaration to be issued by a summit of the G7. Diplomats had already laid the ground for a preliminary agreement as leaders from the group of seven advanced economies gathered on Thursday in Puglia, Italy, for the start of a three-day meeting

Israeli strike on Gaza school that military says was being used by Hamas kills 30 people

An Israeli strike early Thursday on a school-turned-shelter in central Gaza killed at least 30 people. The strike came after the military said it was launching new air and ground operations in central Gaza. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received at least 30 bodies from the strike on the school and another six from a separate strike on a home. Watch!

Outcry grows over Israel’s plan to designate UN aid agency as terrorist organization

Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned an Israeli parliamentary bill that seeks to label UNRWA, the main provider of aid for Palestinians in Gaza, a terrorist group, joining a growing number of nations opposed to the proposal. The bill, which passed a preliminary vote in parliament last week, is the product of increasingly tense relations between Israel and the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. Israel has accused the agency of militant links, claiming that hundreds of its employees are members of militant groups, including some who allegedly participated in the Oct. 7 attacks on southern Israel. Watch!

Israel's Parliament Moves To Designate UNRWA As A 'Terrorist Organisation’

The Israeli parliament will hold a preliminary vote designating the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) as a terrorist organisation, The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday. Watch!

Closing arguments begin in the hush money trial | What happens if Donald Trump is convicted?

Closing arguments have begun in the historic hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump. Then the jury will start deliberations, and after that, it is anyone’s guess when they will return and what they’ll decide. But if he is found guilty on even one count, Donald Trump will become the first former US president with a criminal conviction, and the first major party candidate to run for the White House as a felon. Trump has been free on bail throughout the trial. If the verdict is guilty, he will probably still be able to leave the court as a free man until Justice Juan Merchan schedules a sentencing hearing. The judge has several factors to consider in sentencing, including Trump’s age (77), lack of previous conviction and possibly his violations of the court’s gag orders. Watch!

Watch: Trump Does Not Say If He Will Testify In Hush Money Trial

Donald Trump avoided answering multiple inquiries by reporters about whether or not he will testify in his criminal hush money trial

The Palestinian Fatalities In The Gaza Strip From Ongoing Israeli Attacks Rises To 34,568

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported that the number of Palestinian fatalities in the Gaza Strip resulting from the ongoing Israeli assaults had climbed to 34,568. During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army carried out four military operations in Gaza, killing 33 Palestinians and injuring 57 others, the ministry said in a statement. Watch!

Police Crack Down On Campus Protests Amidst Clashes In Los Angeles | CNN-News18

Hundreds of people were arrested at pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses as police Wednesday extended a crackdown that included clearing out demonstrators occupying a building at Columbia University in New York. Watch!

Pro-Palestinian Student Protests Expand Across More US College Campuses | Israel-Hamas War

Student protests in support of Palestine have spread to additional college campuses across the United States after mass arrests at demonstrations among a handful of mostly East Coast schools in recent days. They're responding to Israel’s war in Gaza, launched after a deadly October raid by Hamas Islamist militants. Watch for more details!

Israeli Forces Kill 14 Palestinians During A Raid In The West Bank

Israeli forces caused the deaths of over a dozen Palestinians in a prolonged raid in the West Bank, as reported by Palestinian authorities on Saturday, April 20. This incident represents one of the highest casualty counts in the occupied region in months, coinciding with a recent escalation in violence. Watch!

South Korea Government To Compromise On Medical Reform Plans To End The Two-Month Walkout By Doctors

South Korea's government announced a compromise in its medical reform plans in an effort to resolve a two-month-long strike by doctors. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo disclosed that the government has agreed to a proposal by leading state medical school deans, allowing them to determine new admissions for the year 2025. Watch!

Former US President Donald Trump Calls Hush Money Trial A Witch Hunt

Former US President Donald Trump denounces the Hush Money trial as a witch hunt, asserting his innocence against 34 charges of business fraud. The allegations claim he orchestrated a scheme to conceal payments to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election, which he won against Hillary Clinton. Watch!

Ukraine Arms Makers Struggling To Fund Production | Russia-Ukraine War

In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, a surge of businesses specializing in weapons and military equipment has emerged within the country. However, this burgeoning private arms industry is encountering challenges as funding diminishes and Russian missile attacks escalate. Entrepreneurs report investing personal funds to sustain operations and relocating at their own expense to evade Russian intelligence and maintain their competitive edge. Watch.

Indonesia's Mount Ruang Volcano Erupts Five Times In A Row | Authorities Issue Tsunami Warnings

Mount Ruang, a stratovolcano in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, experienced multiple eruptions starting on April 17. It erupted four times, with lava flows and lightning visible overnight. Falling debris posed a tsunami risk, prompting evacuation efforts by rescue teams. Authorities issued tsunami warnings in response to the eruptions. Watch for details!

US Supreme Court Leans Towards Jan 6 Rioter in Key Case | How Does it Affect Donald Trump?

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on April 17 signaled skepticism toward an obstruction charge brought by the Justice Department against a Pennsylvania man in the 2021 Capitol attack - a case with possible implications for the prosecution of Donald Trump for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. Watch for more.

Unprecedented surge in ‘Dark Money’ floods US elections

Estimates say $20 Billion will be spent in the US presidential elections 2024. With that there is a lot of buzz about the unprecedented surge in ‘Dark Money’ flooding in the US election. But what is Dark money? And how does it work? Watch to find out!

Watches And Wonders Fair 2024 Held In Geneva, Switzerland | Sneak Peak

Watchmakers are showcasing their most luxurious creations in Geneva this week at the Watches and Wonders fair. The fair will open its doors for three days – up from two last year– from 13 to 15 April. Watch for more details!