Zelensky says Putin is bluffing, wants sanctions on Russia, Israel's new Gaza plan
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Trump, Putin head for high-stakes Alaska summit
ANCHORAGE: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin flew to Alaska on Friday for a high-risk summit that promises a stern test of the US president's promise to end the bloody war in Ukraine. Both leaders voiced hopes of a productive meeting. But while Trump warned he could judge it a failure after just a few minutes if Putin does not budge, the Kremlin said the two would speak for at least six or seven hours. For the Russian president, the summit marks his first foray onto Western soil since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a relentless conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. In recent days Russia has made significant battlefield gains that could strengthen Putin's hand in any ceasefire negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Anchorage, Trump sounded a positive note. "There's a good respect level on both sides and I think something's going to come out of it," he said. Every word and gesture will be closely watched by European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not included and has refused pressure from Trump to surrender territory seized by Russia. "It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelensky said in a social media post. Trump has called the summit a "feel-out meeting" to test Putin, whom he last saw in 2019, and said Friday he was not going to Alaska to negotiate. "I'm here to get them at the table," he said of the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not forecast the outcome of the meeting. "We never make any predictions ahead of time," Lavrov told Russian state TV after he reached Alaska, wearing what appeared to be a shirt with "USSR" written across it in Cyrillic script. Russia's "position is clear and unambiguous," he said. Trump has promised to consult with European leaders and Zelensky, saying that any final agreement would come in a three-way meeting with Putin and the Ukrainian president to "divvy up" territory.
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
Watch: Burj Khalifa glows with Indian Tricolour in honour of 79th Independence Day
Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa was illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag on Monday, August 15, as part of the celebrations marking the 79th anniversary of India's Independence. At precisely 7:50pm, the tricolour lit up the world's tallest building, drawing large crowds who gathered to witness the patriotic display. A video capturing the moment showed the Indian flag cascading down the length of the skyscraper's facade, a sight that drew cheers from the crowd. The annual tradition of projecting the Indian tricolour onto the Burj Khalifa has become a symbolic gesture of friendship between India and the United Arab Emirates. This year's display was no exception, serving as a poignant reminder of India's journey since gaining independence in 1947. Earlier in the day, a flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. During the event, the Consul General praised India's progress across key sectors. He highlighted significant strides in governance, the development of robust digital public infrastructure, and advancements in space exploration. The Consul General also acknowledged the increasing empowerment of women across the country and India's growing self-reliance in the defence sector, noting these achievements as central to the nation's vision for the future. India's Independence Day celebrations are observed with pride by millions of Indians around the globe. The Burj Khalifa tribute stands as a powerful visual representation of India's enduring spirit and its rising presence on the world stage.
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
Washington sues Donald Trump over Federal takeover of city police, Judge Ana Reyes to hold emergency hearing
The District of Columbia has launched a legal battle against the Donald Trump administration, seeking to block what city officials describe as an unlawful and dangerous federal takeover of its police force. The lawsuit, filed on Friday by Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, accuses President Donald Trump of overstepping his constitutional authority and jeopardising public safety. The hearing in DC federal court has begun with Judge Ana C. Reyes, a Biden appointee, presiding the emergency hearing on the city's suit. At the heart of the dispute is President Trump's decision to invoke rarely used emergency powers to place the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under direct federal control. The move, announced earlier this week, also authorised the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to the US capital. The White House insists the intervention is necessary to address what it calls a 'crime emergency,' despite official Justice Department statistics showing crime rates have been falling. Trump's order strips DC's police chief of her operational authority, appointing Drug Enforcement Administration head Terrence Cole as 'emergency police commissioner' with sweeping powers. In her directive, US Attorney General Pam Bondi also revoked city policies limiting police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and instructed officers to fully enforce laws against blocking streets and occupying public spaces. Filed in Washington federal court, the city's complaint argues that the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants DC its limited self-governing powers, does not authorise the president to seize direct control of the police force. Instead, it allows the president to request police assistance from the mayor under 'special emergency conditions' — a significantly narrower power. Attorney General Schwalb's filing warns that the federal order 'would upend the command structure of the MPD, sow chaos among more than 3,100 officers, and endanger both the public and law enforcement officers.' Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, in a sworn statement, said her department was given no advance notice of the president's plans. Calling Bondi's directive 'the most dangerous government action' she had witnessed in nearly three decades, Smith warned it posed a greater threat to law and order than the problems it claimed to solve. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration 'has the lawful authority' to act, citing 'failed leadership' in the city and the need to restore public safety. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro reinforced the administration's focus on tackling violent crime, particularly offences involving young offenders, describing them as 'gangs and crews' who 'think they can beat the hell out of anyone.' DC's unique status — neither a state nor a typical municipality — has long left it vulnerable to federal intervention. Under the Home Rule Act, Congress retains ultimate oversight, and the president controls the city's National Guard. While takeovers of local policing are permitted for up to 30 days during an emergency, they require congressional approval to be extended. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a long-time advocate for D.C. statehood, condemned the move but stopped short of escalating tensions with the White House. Schwalb, however, took a more combative tone, calling Trump's intervention 'unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful.' A federal judge is scheduled to hear Washington's request for a temporary restraining order at 2 pm today. If granted, it could immediately halt the Trump administration's efforts to control the MPD while the legal case proceeds.
