Latest news with #LukeHarding
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Monday briefing: What's at stake for Ukrainians as Trump and Putin talk of ceding land in return for peace
Good morning. On Friday, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Alaska to discuss the future of Ukraine, but there was no deal reached and no big questions answered. Trump appeared deferential to the Russian leader and now backs plans to hand over Ukrainian territory as part of a peace deal. Today he will meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. In discussions about what a peace settlement would look like, 'land swaps' were represented as simple transactions. The fate of people appeared to be a casual afterthought. Trump and Putin are eager to embrace the idea that territory can be bought and sold like real estate, but Guardian reporting exposes the devastating part of this war: human loss. Last month casualties hit a three-year high, with more Ukrainian civilians killed than in any month since May 2022. Our writers have been documenting the escalating human cost of this war – whole communities eradicated, schools shut, cottages silent and people in towns near fighting exhausted by sleepless nights. For today's newsletter, I spoke to our senior international correspondent Luke Harding, who has just returned from four weeks in Ukraine, about what morale is like in these once tranquil villages now on the frontlines – and whether the Alaska summit changes anything for Ukraine. That's after the headlines. Gaza | Palestinians were gripped by fear and anxiety on Sunday after the Israeli military said it was preparing for the forcible displacement of a million people from Gaza City. Meanwhile tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv to call for an end to the war in Gaza. Scotland | The UK's first transgender judge has launched a case against the UK in the European court of human rights challenging the process that led to the supreme court's ruling on biological sex. Business | The bosses of Britain's largest listed companies took home record high pay packets for the third successive year, according to a report. Analysis found that the record set in the last financial year means the average FTSE 100 chief executive is now paid 122 times the salary of the average full-time UK worker. US news | Three people were killed and eight others wounded when multiple gunmen opened fire inside a crowded Brooklyn hookah lounge and restaurant early on Sunday morning, according to authorities. Weather | Hurricane Erin was downgraded to category 3 early on Sunday as its outer bands continued to lash the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with heavy rains and tropical storm force winds. Luke Harding has been reporting from the Dnipropetrovsk region, which the Russians have penetrated for the first time in the last few weeks. An evacuation charity has been rescuing elderly and sick people from frontline villages swallowed up by fighting – they are usually the last to leave. 'It's about people, it's about homes, livelihoods, families, husbands, wives, children, grandparents, dogs, cats, chickens, vegetable gardens, and so on – this is what's being lost,' says Luke. 'Entire communities are being eradicated.' This monumental loss is encapsulated by the story of Valentyn Velykyi, a 70-year-old man who lived in the small agricultural village of Maliyivka in central-eastern Ukraine. He knew everyone in his village. Once Russian troops arrived, the village's 300-odd residents fled, except Velykyi – until a missile destroyed his house and he no longer had a home to go to. People in villages all over Ukraine have similar stories. 'There's something biblical about it,' says Luke. 'You go to these places and you see incongruously blooming vigorous gardens with flowers and marrows and apple trees where apples are falling and lying on the wayside, next to benches where people used to sit and gossip with their neighbours.' Primary schools are closed, shops are shut up, and people have fled. 'It's the extermination of a way of life – that's what it is. It's not real estate. It's human estate.' Luke says Putin is indifferent to what happens in these areas – his priority is for them to be part of Russia. For many civilians in areas under occupation by Russia, ceding control in a peace deal would mean saying goodbye to their homes for ever. As a foreign correspondent, Luke would go to the frontline and then return to Kyiv to write his reports, but now Kyiv is being targeted by Russian drones almost every night. 'It's really hard to sleep, and when you go out for your coffee in the morning, everybody looks exhausted.' What do ordinary Ukrainians think about Russia? A poll from 2014 found that 26% of Ukrainians living in the east of the country thought Russia and Ukraine should unite as a single state. But Luke says that now – apart from a very few older people – everybody supports Ukraine and hates Russia. Since the war, Ukraine has also become more European (last month protests erupted against weakening the powers of anti-corruption agencies). 'The great irony of this war is that Putin wants to de-Ukrainise Ukraine – he wants to make it disappear, roll it back into Russia.' But he's done the opposite, says Luke, who has been travelling to Ukraine since 2007. 'Ukraine has become more Ukrainian since I've been going there.' Shaun Walker, meanwhile, has been reporting from the city of Zaporizhzhia, an industrial hub in south-east Ukraine that has been under near-constant attack from missiles and drones. Plenty of people here and in other Ukrainian towns close to the frontline are ready for Kyiv to sign a peace deal – even an imperfect one – if it means the attacks will stop. But many others disagree, because they know first-hand what it means to give Russia control over Ukrainian territory: arrests, disappearances and the erasure of anything Ukrainian. What does the future hold for Ukrainians? Today European leaders will join Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the White House for a meeting with Donald Trump in an effort to push back on a US-endorsed 'peace plan'. Ukrainians understand Russia very well. They speak both languages, and they don't trust Putin, who has 'violated every previous agreement he's signed', says Luke. Giving over land, they believe, would simply make it easier for him to advance further. 'People understand that a ceasefire would last five minutes, five days, maybe a maximum of five months, and then Putin would continue because his goal is unchanged – which is to destroy Ukraine entirely and turn it into Russia, which he considers it to be,' says Luke. 'And practically the only person on the planet who doesn't seem to understand this is Donald Trump.' The Russian strategy is to be deliberately chaotic – targeting different areas all across the country. Fighting has increased on all fronts, with waves of kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles. 'It looks pretty bleak insofar as the Russians will continue to push forward. They have numerical advantages in terms of troops, machinery, fibre-optic drones,' he says. 'I just don't see that ending, because the Russians think they're winning … There's no incentive for the Russians to stop, and the Americans are not making the Russians stop. 'Putin's lobbying campaign on Trump behind the scenes has been extremely effective. Trump has basically shifted position in a way that Ukraine and Europe hoped he wouldn't. This has happened in two important ways: one, he now says there needs to be a comprehensive peace deal and then a ceasefire [which is the Russian position]; and two, sources suggest he has embraced the Russian land swap plan, which is that Russia gets full control of Donetsk and Luhansk as a condition for ending the war. 'What we'll see over the next few weeks is pressure ratcheted up on Ukraine to go along with this 'ceasefire plan' without very many meaningful guarantees from America,' says Luke. 'It's going to be a stormy and difficult time ahead. And what is abundantly clear – post Alaska – is that this war will continue.' What about the fate of Ukrainians elsewhere? There are nearly seven million Ukrainian refugees globally, with more than 200,000 in the UK. Generally, refugees have been treated well – support for Ukraine is not a party-political issue in the UK. But there have been issues with continued housing – for example, last weekend a Ukrainian mum with two children told Luke she was being kicked out of her council flat. 'Many people opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees three and a half years ago, and now many have had to move on,' he says. Some have gone back to Ukraine. A billion-pound budget was awarded to councils across England to help Ukrainian refugees find accommodation. Yet £327m has remained unused, despite thousands of Ukrainian refugees being homeless. 'It's fine to say, 'Oh, we're saving it for a rainy day,' but people are struggling now,' says reporter Diane Taylor, who worked on the investigation, published this morning. While organisations such as the Ukrainian Institute London have offered free language classes, learning English remains a barrier for many refugees seeking accommodation, especially when trying to access private rented housing. Diane stressed how 'if you can speak the language, it makes life easier, even for something as unimportant as a holiday'. Experts, meanwhile, say council support 'is often a postcode lottery'. Councils have a great deal of discretion over the funds, and while many have received assistance, more and more are struggling. The problem for Ukraine is that the longer the war goes on, the less likely people are to return. 'Mostly we're talking about women and kids,' says Luke. 'The ones in the UK are in British schools, they've made friends – they're integrating. The longer the war continues, the greater the likelihood they become British.' Ukrainians are weary but defiant. 'They want the fighting to stop, they want the bombs to stop falling. But they don't want to hand over their homes, communities, jobs, the places where they fell in love, to the Russian enemy.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Additional writing by Saranka Maheswaran. England has an international reputation for endless rain and yet it appears the unthinkable is happening – we're running out of water. Here's a great read from Helena Horton on why our reservoirs are so low. Phoebe Hundreds of people have been arrested for taking part in demonstrations in support for the banned group Palestine Action. Half of those recently arrested were 60 or over. The Guardian interviewed those who took part for this incredibly beautiful infographic. Aamna This piece is not for the squeamish but it's a fascinating look inside the world of men who are so desperate to be taller they will sustain medieval torture for the privilege. Phoebe Simon Hattenstone recalls Princess Andre as a baby in the arms of her mother, Katie Price, who was then married to Princess's father, Peter Andre. As she turns 18 and launches her reality TV career, the interview deftly examines whether she will fall into the same traps of fame as her parents. Aamna I'm curious about Zack Polanski's brand of 'eco-populism' and interested to see he is starting to pull away from his more traditional Green party competitors – seems like change could be afoot. Phoebe Football | A goalkeeping error from Manchester United's Altay Bayindir allowed Riccardo Calafiori to score the winner at Old Trafford for Arsenal in the opening weekend of the Premier League. Tennis | Jannik Sinner, the top seed and defending champion, ended the French qualifier Térence Atmane's dream run at the Cincinnati Open with a two-set win to reach the final of the US Open warm-up event. Athletics | Long-distance runner Evie Parts has sued the NCAA and Swarthmore College as well as members of its athletic department, saying they illegally removed her from the track team because she is transgender. 'UK and EU at Zelenskyy's side for talks with Trump' is the Guardian's lead story headline while the Mirror says 'Ukraine war showdown … Europe takes a stand' and the Telegraph runs with 'Europe tells Trump: Don't give in to Putin'. Similar in the i paper – 'Europe unites for Zelensky's peace mission in Washington' – and in the Financial Times: 'Zelensky and European allies seek security guarantees in Trump talks'. The Mail calls it 'D-day at the White House' and the Times has 'Zelensky wants security guarantees before a deal'. A change of subject courtesy of the Metro: ''Outrageous' rail fares rises' while the Express splashes with 'Britain's 10 million junk food addicts'. Stephen Miller, Trump's immigration mastermind What is driving the architect of Donald Trump's immigration policy? With Jean Guerrero A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad Channel 5 is reviving Play for Today, the influential BBC anthology drama series that ran from 1970 to 1984 and became known for tackling social issues and launching major careers. The new series aims to give opportunities to creatives from lower-income backgrounds, while continuing its tradition of politically charged storytelling. The first few productions explore themes such as failing schools, historical abuse and ageing. Channel 5's chief content officer, Ben Frow, said: 'The original Play For Today helped establish the careers of some of Britain's best writers, directors and producers, so we want to do the same.' Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Trump says stakes are 'high' before flight to Anchorage
Luke Harding, Senior International Correspondent with The Guardian, discusses the much-anticipated Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Carole Coleman, RTÉ Reporter, speaks to several Ukranians living in Ireland about their views on the meeting.
The Guardian
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Protests against Zelenskyy as drones torment Ukraine
For the first time since the war began three years ago, Ukraine was the scene of major anti-government protests earlier this month. The Guardian's correspondent in the country, Luke Harding, heads to the streets of Kyiv to hear from protesters angry at Volodymyr Zelenskyy's attempt to strip two key anti-corruption bodies of their independence – a move that he now seems to be retreating from. Harding tells Helen Pidd that the developments come at a difficult time for Ukraine. The UN estimates that Russian attacks killed more civilians in June than in any other month since the war began. Moscow is suffering huge casualties too, but seems unlikely to stop its offensive any time soon as it slowly gains territory in eastern Ukraine. So what happens next in the war? And is there any chance that Zelenskyy's position is under threat?
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Singapore Zoo celebrates reptile baby boom, including endangered species
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – The Singapore Zoo welcomed nearly 20 young reptiles between April and June 2025, including the first successful hatchings of the Philippine crocodile and Chinese leopard gecko, both critically endangered species. The new additions include two painted terrapins, t hree Chinese leopard geckos and 13 wester n gaboon vipers. In a media release on J uly 17 , Mandai Wildlife Group said these breeding milestones support efforts within the international zoo community to maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations under human care. Curator of animal care (operations) Luke Harding said: 'Behind each successful hatching is a journey of perseverance, trial, and careful planning. Many of these species are notoriously difficult to breed in human care. That's why seeing them thrive is incredibly rewarding and meaningful for us.' As of June 2025, th e Singapore Zoo is home to about 80 reptile species, more than half of which are threatened. Across the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which includes five wildlife parks, there are over 100 reptile species. Opened in 2017, RepTopia houses reptiles and amphibians from four geographical zones and features a viewing gallery that lets visitors peek into its working hatchery. The Philippine crocodile hatchling is the result of a careful breeding programme involving a pair named Reginald and Delilah, which arrived from National Aquarium Denmark in 2022 . The species is notoriously difficult to breed due to its aggressive nature, especially during mating season. To encourage pairing, the zoo relocated the 1 1-year -olds to a newly designed habitat with visual barriers, varied terrain, and a pond with adjustable dividers. Improved heating and lighting helped regulate the crocodiles' body temperatures and hormone levels. Delilah was soon observed nesting, and keepers decided to artificially incubate the eggs to increase their chances of survival. Tw o eggs w ere fertile. After weeks of monitoring and candling - a process using light to check development - one female successfully hatched on J une 10. She has since started feeding on small fish and crickets, and is growing well in an off-exhibit area. Another breakthrough cam e on April 2 9 with the hatching of two painted terrapins, also critically endangered. The zoo's herpetology team had worked nearly a decade to create the right conditions, relocating the adults to a new habitat with better basking spots, secluded nesting areas, and a diet rich in leafy greens. The hatchlings, both female, are now feeding on bok choy and sweet potato leaves. Both the Philippine crocodile and painted terrapin are listed as ASAP species, animals identified by the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Species Action Partnership as requiring urgent conservation attention. The programme is hosted by Mandai Nature, the conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group. RepTopia also recorded its first successful hatching of Chinese leopard geckos, with three eggs producing healthy hatchlings on M ay 27, Jun e 24 and June 25. The eggs were incubated at temperatures between 23 and 26 deg C. A size comparison of a little Chinese leopard gecko and $2 note. PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP The geckos, now active and feeding, sport dark bodies with white bands and bright orange eyes. On May 12, the zoo welcomed 13 western gaboon vipers, the first such births in about 10 years. To encourage breeding, the team simulated seasonal changes using a misting schedule and reduced the female's feeding frequency. Gaboon vipers have a broad head that resembles a fallen leaf. In the wild, this helps them blend in with the leaf litter on the forest floor. PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE RESERVE The species gives birth to live young, known as ovoviviparity, and this clutch included five males and eight females. The snakes, venomous from birth, have the longest fangs of any venomous species. 'These hatchings provide valuable opportunities for research and knowledge sharing,' said Mr Harding. 'They deepen our understanding of species care and support collaborative breeding efforts among zoos globally.' The successes follow a record year for Mandai parks in 2024, which saw close to 1,000 animal births across 143 species , including 34 that are threatened. Among them were golden mantella frogs and poison dart frogs, both bred in carefully controlled environments. More hatchlings may be on the way. Eggs from New Caledonia giant geckos and the critically endangered Annam leaf turtle, with fewer than 50 left in the wild, are currently being incubated.
The Guardian
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Russia-Ukraine war live: US and European negotiators head to London for peace talks as Russian attacks continue
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Dan Sabbagh and Luke Harding report from Kyiv David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, will host US and European negotiators for fresh talks about Ukraine on Wednesday amid speculation that Russia has told Washington it might be willing to drop its claim to parts of Ukraine it does not occupy. The price would include the US making concessions to Moscow such as recognising the 2014 annexation of Crimea, though Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said no such proposal had been shared with him by the White House and that his country could not endorse it. The emerging US-Russia plan would envisage a ceasefire along roughly the existing frontlines once Moscow's territorial demand has been dropped, leaks suggest – something that Ukraine has indicated it could accept, as long it did not have to recognise Russian occupation as permanent or legal. Ukraine would be prevented by a US veto from joining Nato, a point largely accepted by a reluctant Kyiv. The only future security guarantees for Ukraine would be provided by a UK/French-led 30-country 'coalition of the willing' to provide a 'reassurance force', but this would not include the US. It had been hoped that Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, would attend the talks, but the state department said on Tuesday that would no longer be possible and that Keith Kellogg, the White House's Ukraine envoy, would be present instead. Share Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature A Russian drone hit a bus carrying workers in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets early on Wednesday, killing nine people in a wave of attacks that targeted civilian infrastructure in east, south and central Ukraine, officials said. 'The Russians attacked a bus with employees of the enterprise who were on their way to work in Marhanets,' Mykola Lukashuk, head of the Dnipropetrovsk region council, said on Telegram. Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, which includes Marhanets, in central-southern Ukraine, said nine people were killed in the attack, with at least 30 injured. Reuters reports Ukraine's emergency service said that there was also an attack on the Synelnykivskyi district in the Dnipropetrovsk region that injured two people and sparked a fire at an agricultural enterprise. Russia also launched 'a massive' drone attack on the central Ukrainian region of Poltava, injuring at least six people, the emergency service said in a post on Telegram messaging app. 'Solely the city's civilian infrastructure was under enemy attacks,' the emergency service said. Share Dan Sabbagh and Luke Harding report from Kyiv David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, will host US and European negotiators for fresh talks about Ukraine on Wednesday amid speculation that Russia has told Washington it might be willing to drop its claim to parts of Ukraine it does not occupy. The price would include the US making concessions to Moscow such as recognising the 2014 annexation of Crimea, though Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said no such proposal had been shared with him by the White House and that his country could not endorse it. The emerging US-Russia plan would envisage a ceasefire along roughly the existing frontlines once Moscow's territorial demand has been dropped, leaks suggest – something that Ukraine has indicated it could accept, as long it did not have to recognise Russian occupation as permanent or legal. Ukraine would be prevented by a US veto from joining Nato, a point largely accepted by a reluctant Kyiv. The only future security guarantees for Ukraine would be provided by a UK/French-led 30-country 'coalition of the willing' to provide a 'reassurance force', but this would not include the US. It had been hoped that Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, would attend the talks, but the state department said on Tuesday that would no longer be possible and that Keith Kellogg, the White House's Ukraine envoy, would be present instead. Share Good morning, welcome to our rolling coverage of the war in Ukraine. Here are the headlines … US and European allies will join their UK and Ukraine counterparts in London for the latest round of peace talks Leaks have suggested an emerging US-Russia plan would envisage a ceasefire along roughly the existing frontlines, with Moscow dropping further territorial demands, and the US recognising Russia's occupation of Crimea Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said no such proposal about Crimea had been shared with him, by the White House and that his country could not endorse it Ukraine would be prevented by a US veto from ever joining Nato, a point now largely accepted by a reluctant Kyiv A Russian drone hit a bus carrying workers in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets early on Wednesday, killing nine people in a wave of attacks that targeted civilian infrastructure in east, south and central Ukraine, officials said Share
