"Putin asked Trump for Epstein files": Best jokes from Alaska Vantage with Palki Sharma
Social media users joked that peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin broke down after the Russian leader demanded the release of the Epstein list. Though the talks did not produce a breakthrough, the media attention ensured some high-quality memes. Palki Sharma brings you the best ones on Joke of the Day.
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Business Standard
2 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: India's choices in a world of shifting alliances
Sometimes, dawn surprises us. On some mornings, when the smog lifts a little late, the sky doesn't always glow orange or pink, it burns purple, evoking an emotion that is unusual, unsettling, but undeniably striking. A purple sunrise feels unfamiliar as it is neither night nor day, neither threat nor promise, but a reminder that the world can tilt without warning. Much like this strange dawn, today's writeups capture moments of uncertainty: alliances tested, policies shifting, and futures recast in unexpected shades. Let's dive in. In Washington, a purple sun casts long shadows on India-US trade. Peter Navarro defended a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports in the Financial Times, linking it to discounted Russian oil purchases. Yet larger buyers like China and Turkiye face no such penalty, exposing selective logic in US trade policy. With India already reducing Russian imports, the imbalance remains, notes our first editorial, and the debate now is whether New Delhi should pre-emptively lower its own tariffs to turn the purple glare into long-term advantage. Closer home, the unusual light also falls on Beijing's sudden warmth. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's first visit in three years promised cooperation on fertilisers, minerals, and visas, while signalling readiness for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected trip for the SCO summit. Disengagements on the border and resumed pilgrimages suggest easing tensions, but history shows Beijing's hues can change overnight, highlights our second editorial. For India, reducing dependence while broadening regional partnerships may be the only way to guard against sudden eclipses. Meanwhile, Shyam Saran sees the same strange dawn in Europe's courtship of Donald Trump. Leaders, eager to brand him peacemaker, endorsed territorial concessions to Russia, a diplomatic win for Moscow disguised as compromise. For Russia, it was a quiet victory and for India, the lesson is clear: avoid pandering to volatile leaders, prepare for hostile tariffs that will not vanish, and guard against 'grand bargains' that may push New Delhi to the margins. Yet amid the global haze, Vinayak Chatterjee points to the glow of opportunity within. He writes that India's Rs 1 trillion Urban Challenge Fund could finally give cities the resources to become growth hubs, provided projects are designed to attract private capital and avoid the stumbles of past schemes. With urbanisation accelerating, this could be the purple glow of opportunity on the horizon. And finally, in Gunjan Singh's review of Joseph Torigian's biography of Xi Zhongxun, the father of Xi Jinping, the theme sharpens. Xi senior's life, marked by loyalty, purges, and resilience, shows how power bends people and systems alike. It is a reminder that a purple sun rises when history itself is in flux and we must learn to read the colours before they fade. Stay tuned!
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Business Standard
2 minutes ago
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Trump only prez to check Russia this century, ensure peace: WH press secy
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (local time) said that US President Donald Trump is the only president this century, Republican or Democrat, who has held Russia in check and ensured peace in Europe. "Just look at what took place during the last four administrations. Under George W. Bush, Russia invaded Georgia. Under Barack Obama, Russia took Crimea. Under Joe Biden, Russia invaded Ukraine. But under President Trump, Russia did not invade or take anything. President Trump is the only president this century, Republican or Democrat, who has held Russia in check and ensured peace in Europe. That's because Russia has always greatly respected President Trump and his peace through strength foreign policy approach," she said at a press conference following the president's meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Earlier, Trump had criticised former President Barack Obama's response to Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. "No getting back Obama given NO GOING INTO Nato BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!" During Obama's presidency, Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine, and many critics argue that the US and its allies did not take strong enough action to reverse the move or deter further aggression. Trump's approach to Russia was characterised by a mix of cooperation and confrontation. On one hand, he advocated for improved relations with Russia and maintained a positive public rapport with President Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, his administration took decisive actions against Russia, including imposing sanctions, expelling Russian diplomats, and providing military aid to Ukraine. Leavitt said that it was a matter of 'common sense' that the Russia-Ukraine Conflict would never have started if US President Donald Trump were the President in 2022. "On Friday, as you all know, many of you were there, President Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska for a bilateral meeting. This was the first time President Putin has been to the United States since 2015 and the first time he has met with an American president in years. President Putin publicly confirmed what President Trump has said all along. The war between Russia and Ukraine never would have started in the first place if President Trump were in office. This was always obvious to any person with a shred of common sense," she said. Leavitt said that the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was successful, as it yielded results within 48 hours. "But overall, the bilateral talks in Alaska were very productive, and multiple key points were agreed to between the two leaders that truly opened up the door for phase 2 discussions, which took place yesterday here at the White House. Within 48 hours of that meeting in Anchorage, I may add," she said. Leavitt said that Trump is brokering peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as his predecessor Joe Biden 'allowed' it to take place by funding it through Americans' tax dollars. "What we've witnessed President Trump accomplish over the last few days has been nothing short of remarkable. We are now three and a half years into the war between Russia and Ukraine. A brutal conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives and cost trillions of dollars. The weakness and incompetence of Joe Biden foolishly allowed the killing to start in the first place. Until President Trump returned to office in January, the bloody and broken Biden status quo was to endlessly force American taxpayers to fund Ukraine no matter the cost, no matter how long it takes, and no matter how many lives were lost. There is no denying that Biden's America last foreign policy moved the world further away from peace," she said. Trump 's efforts are breaking the deadlock now, Leavitt claimed. "President Trump rejected that failed approach and instead, over the last seven months, has relentlessly pursued peace throughout his second term. And thanks to President Trump's efforts, we finally have movement after years of deadly gridlock," she said. Leavitt said that all European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy credited Trump with the peace brokerage. "As you all know, there were many European leaders here as well as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. They all travelled here to meet with President Trump to maintain the momentum and work toward a lasting peace. Across the board, every leader credited President Trump for his decisive leadership that has reignited the dialogue in hopes of finally bringing this war to a peaceful conclusion. Two quotes in particular capture the progress that was made in the optimism moving forward. Finnish President Alexander Stub said, "I think in the past two weeks, we've probably had more progress in ending this war than we have had in the past two and a three and a half years." Again, that is the president of Finland, a country that shares a border with Russia. That's what we call the President Trump effect," she said. Leavitt also quoted Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte as saying that without Trump, these talks could never have happened. "Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte also summed it up well. "Without President Trump, this deadlock with Putin would not have been broken. He is the only one who could do this." Following the encouraging conversations yesterday, President Trump spoke with President Putin by phone and he agreed to begin the next phase of the peace process, a meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, which would be followed, if necessary, by a trilateral meeting between President Putin, President Zelenskyy, and President Trump. As the president said, Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, and Special Envoy Witkoff will continue to coordinate with Russia and Ukraine to make this happen as soon as possible," she said. Leavitt claimed that previous presidents would travel 'halfway around the globe' asking for forgiveness, but Trump pulled world leaders to the White House and helped them out. "It's very important to remember that before President Trump's landslide victory last November, there was no end in sight to this bloodshed. Now, there may finally be light at the end of the tunnel and an opportunity for lasting peace. That's because President Trump is the peace president and American leadership is back on the world stage. It should not be lost on anyone in this room that world leaders are coming right here to Washington DC for help. While previous presidents have travelled halfway around the world to apologise for America, President Trump stands up for America, and he has firmly restored America's status as the undisputed leader of the free world," she said.
Mint
2 minutes ago
- Mint
Putin unleashed biggest drone strike as Trump eyed Ukraine peace: ‘Entire family wiped out'
Russia launched its biggest drone strike on Ukraine just after President Vladimir Putin ended his call with United States President Donald Trump after a summit in Washington, leaving a thick column of smoke hovering over Kremenchuk city and wiping out an entire family of five - including two children. The strikes on Ukraine came just after there were reports of a telephonic call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, hinting at progress towards ending Russia's war on Ukraine. Moscow launched 270 drones and 10 missiles, the Ukrainian air force said. Although it said it had downed 230 of the drones, it said 16 sites were struck. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, 'While hard work to advance peace was underway in Washington, DC, Moscow continued to do the opposite of peace: more strikes and destruction.' The Ukrainian government reported that a whole family was killed, including two children, aged one and 15, along with their parents and grandmother. The tragedy struck in their Kharkiv home, about 15 miles from the Russian border, in the middle of the night. 'An ordinary apartment block … families with small children, a children's playground, a residential compound,' a person was quoted as saying by Reuters. The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces hit an oil refinery supplying Ukraine's military. Kremenchuk is home to a large refinery, although the ministry did not say if this was the one that was struck. Targeting Vladimir Putin, Zelensky's top advisor Andriy Yermak told The Post: "Several children were killed. How is that possible if [Putin] sat and committed to Trump: 'Yes, I am ready for peace.'' '[Putin] is a liar – a professional liar,' he said. A Tuesday morning drone attack by Russia on Ukraine's Chernihiv region also damaged infrastructure. Local energy official said more than 30,000 households lost power. (With Reuters inputs)
