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Russia Today
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Red carpet for a new world order: What really went down in Alaska
The meeting in Anchorage opened with a choreographed spectacle unlike anything the world had seen before. Two massive airships rolled onto the tarmac one after the other. Two presidents emerged at the exact same moment. They began walking toward each other. Donald Trump paused on the red carpet, waiting as Vladimir Putin covered his part of the distance. The world held its breath. It must have felt something like July 1969, when millions watched Neil Armstrong step onto the lunar surface. A few more seconds, one small step – and then, the historic handshake. A giant leap for mankind. The staging seemed to promise that history would be made that very day. Hundreds of journalists from around the globe had gathered at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base, anticipating dramatic announcements. Instead, the ending fell flat. After closed-door talks, Trump and Putin appeared before the cameras to declare there was 'no deal yet' – only an agreement to keep talking. The expanded session and working lunch were scrapped. Putin laid flowers at a cemetery for Soviet World War II pilots and headed home. For Trump, the peace process boils down to optics. He wants the same kind of photo-op he just staged with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia: Putin and Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky shaking hands under his divine glow, the self-anointed peacemaker adding another jewel to his crown. The Kremlin sees it differently. Between the two largest nuclear powers, dialogue must be on an equal footing. A Putin-Zelensky meeting can only come as the result of terms worked out directly between Putin and Trump – terms Zelensky would have no choice but to implement. That is the central landmine under today's US-Russian dialogue. For Putin's delegation, the task wasn't to put on a show but to achieve some real movement beneath the surface. On the eve of Anchorage, I wrote: 'What does Trump want? A ceasefire, and a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. What must Putin do? Ensure both happen on his conditions. Those conditions are clear: Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbass. The question is whether Trump signs on.' If the leaks are to be believed, the Russians at least nudged Trump closer to their position. He now seems willing to test whether he can pressure Ukraine and Europe into accepting Putin's terms. That's what the coming weeks will revolve around. By that measure, the Russian delegation achieved its goals – vital for the peace process, but impossible to sell to the public. No shiny photo. So why doesn't Trump simply bow out? The answer is simple: he can't. He's stuck in the groove he inherited from his predecessor, Joe Biden, and climbing out isn't easy. Under Biden, Washington was the engine driving the war. Under Trump, America is just dead weight, lumbering forward on inertia. Pressuring Putin would take effort. Pressuring Europe and Ukraine would take effort. Even walking away would take effort – and the US can't manage that. All America can do now is drift with the current: trickle in weapons and intelligence, without strategy or purpose, because that's the path of least resistance. Trump hopes the war will somehow resolve itself without him having to deal with it. If we stick with analogies, America under Trump is a massive iron weight on a chain. Russia on one side, Europe and Ukraine on the other, all trying to swing it in their favor. In Anchorage, Moscow won the round. Europe and Ukraine will bargain, but sooner or later they'll have to swallow the loss of Donbass – just as they already swallowed the loss of the '91 borders, the 'no talks with Putin' stance, the Zelensky 'peace plan,' and plenty more. Europe and Ukraine are prepared to give up much, as long as one thing remains: Western – above all, American – security guarantees to keep the Kiev regime alive. That's the next big debate. But the reality hasn't changed. Guarantees exist only if Putin agrees. And he will agree only if Kiev's government is replaced with one loyal to Moscow. In official language: demilitarization and denazification. These conditions were written into the Istanbul agreements as far back as spring 2022. That's the root contradiction, the reason for the war itself, as Putin keeps saying – and now, more tentatively, Trump as well. Europe and Ukraine show no signs of budging, though their efforts to preserve the current regime grow ever more desperate. As Ukraine loses the war, swinging that Trump-weight gets harder for Europe and Kiev – and easier for Moscow. But as long as the Ukrainian army holds the line, the game continues. So was the Alaska summit just a footnote, destined to be forgotten? I don't think so. This is one of those rare cases where form matters more than substance. No historic agreements were signed. No big statements made. Nothing settled. But in the history books, the photo of Trump and Putin on the red carpet in Anchorage will mark the chapter. Why? Because the meeting drove the final nail into the coffin of the West's war narrative. Russia is no pariah. Putin is no criminal. The war in Ukraine is not 'illegal.' The West no longer writes the rules. The West is now a global minority – just one of several power centers, riven by internal cracks. And in the West itself, people feel it. Many already understand it. The Ukrainian crisis triggered an avalanche, speeding the arrival of a new world order. The Alaska summit didn't end the hot war – and couldn't have – but it will remain a vivid image, a symbol of a turning epoch.
Fast Company
03-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
6 facts to know about the iconic Goodyear Blimp which turns 100 this week
The iconic Goodyear airships are taking a victory lap over the skies of an Ohio city this week. The Akron-based tire company is celebrating the 100th anniversary of 'Pilgrim,' its first blimp to take flight just outside of the city on June 3, 1925. Goodyear began experimenting with vessels that would be lighter than aircraft in the early 1900s, and the dirigibles have since become a lasting and iconic symbol of the corporate brand. For some, it evokes nostalgia, while for others it offers a glimpse into a larger-than-life part of advertisement history. Here is a by-the-numbers look at Goodyear airships over time: 1910 Goodyear establishes an Aeronautics Department to build lighter-than-air aircrafts, and by 1912 the company had built its first balloon. In 1930, the 'Defender' blimp became the first airship in the world to carry a lit neon sign so the company's name could be seen after dark. Goodyear began making airships for the U.S. Navy in 1917, and its first blimp — the first commercial non-rigid airship flown using helium — launched years later, becoming a marketing tool. From 1942 to 1944, the company built more than 150 airships for the Navy to serve in World War II, flying patrol over warships on the seas with zero reported loss of ships when a blimp was on watch. New Year's Day 1955 The Goodyear Blimp has been a regular at major sporting events since flying above the 1955 Rose Bowl. A few years later, it became a service vehicle for television coverage while simultaneously functioning as a highly visible advertising platform. Since that time, blimps have undergone wholesale changes and improved dramatically: steering technology; safety innovations; high-definition cameras; aerial views captured with specialized systems that compensate for movement during filming, resulting in stable and smooth footage footage; and much quieter rides thanks to relocated engines and propellers. 4 blimps There currently are four Goodyear Blimps — the three in the U.S. and one in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Today's Goodyear Blimps are semi-rigid dirigibles, meaning they have an internal frame as compared to previous eras of blimps that could be fully deflated. In 2014, Goodyear transitioned to the New Technology semi-rigid airship platform designed to allow for improved maneuverability and speed. 246 feet The Goodyear Blimp is 246 feet long (75 meters), which would cover about 80% of a football field. It is 58 feet (18 meters) high and holds three Olympic-sized swimming pools' worth of helium. Goodyear gets helium for its blimps from multiple sources. Because helium is a finite resource, the company purifies its helium every six to eight weeks to extend its life. The blimp travels more than 100 days per year, with trips ranging anywhere from three days to three weeks. A crew of nearly 20 people travel with the airship whenever it is touring. Today's Goodyear Blimps fly between 1,000 and 1,500 feet (305 meters and 457 meters) in the air and travel at speeds up to 73 miles per hour (117 kilometers per hour). 10 blimp pilots There currently are fewer blimp pilots in the world than astronauts, according to Goodyear, which has 10 full-time pilots. To serve in that job, you must have a commercial pilot license followed by approximately 250 hours of training to earn an additional lighter-than-air airship rating from the Federal Aviation Administration. 2,500 and 500,000 The blimp has covered more than 2,500 events and taken more than 500,000 passengers for rides, according to Goodyear. Former President Ronald Reagan might be the most famous passenger, but it was rapper Ice Cube who raised the blimp's street cred when he included a line about it in his 1992 song titled 'It Was A Good Day.'
Washington Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
The iconic Goodyear Blimp is 100. To celebrate, a flight over Ohio
The iconic Goodyear airships are taking a victory lap over the skies of an Ohio city this week. The Akron-based tire company is celebrating the 100th anniversary of 'Pilgrim,' its first blimp to take flight just outside of the city on June 3, 1925. Goodyear began experimenting with vessels that would be lighter than aircraft in the early 1900s, and the dirigibles have since become a lasting and iconic symbol of the corporate brand. For some, it evokes nostalgia, while for others it offers a glimpse into a larger-than-life part of advertisement history. Here is a by-the-numbers look at Goodyear airships over time: Goodyear establishes an Aeronautics Department to build lighter-than-air aircrafts, and by 1912 the company had built its first balloon. In 1930, the 'Defender' blimp became the first airship in the world to carry a lit neon sign so the company's name could be seen after dark. Goodyear began making airships for the U.S. Navy in 1917, and its first blimp — the first commercial non-rigid airship flown using helium — launched years later, becoming a marketing tool. From 1942 to 1944, the company built more than 150 airships for the Navy to serve in World War II, flying patrol over warships on the seas with zero reported loss of ships when a blimp was on watch. The Goodyear Blimp has been a regular at major sporting events since flying above the 1955 Rose Bowl. A few years later, it became a service vehicle for television coverage while simultaneously functioning as a highly visible advertising platform. Since that time, blimps have undergone wholesale changes and improved dramatically: steering technology; safety innovations; high-definition cameras; aerial views captured with specialized systems that compensate for movement during filming, resulting in stable and smooth footage footage; and much quieter rides thanks to relocated engines and propellers. There currently are four Goodyear Blimps — the three in the U.S. and one in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Today's Goodyear Blimps are semi-rigid dirigibles, meaning they have an internal frame as compared to previous eras of blimps that could be fully deflated. In 2014, Goodyear transitioned to the New Technology semi-rigid airship platform designed to allow for improved maneuverability and speed. The Goodyear Blimp is 246 feet long (75 meters), which would cover about 80% of a football field. It is 58 feet (18 meters) high and holds three Olympic-sized swimming pools' worth of helium. Goodyear gets helium for its blimps from multiple sources. Because helium is a finite resource, the company purifies its helium every six to eight weeks to extend its life. The blimp travels more than 100 days per year, with trips ranging anywhere from three days to three weeks. A crew of nearly 20 people travel with the airship whenever it is touring. Today's Goodyear Blimps fly between 1,000 and 1,500 feet (305 meters and 457 meters) in the air and travel at speeds up to 73 miles per hour (117 kilometers per hour). There currently are fewer blimp pilots in the world than astronauts, according to Goodyear, which has 10 full-time pilots. To serve in that job, you must have a commercial pilot license followed by approximately 250 hours of training to earn an additional lighter-than-air airship rating from the Federal Aviation Administration. The blimp has covered more than 2,500 events and taken more than 500,000 passengers for rides, according to Goodyear. Former President Ronald Reagan might be the most famous passenger, but it was rapper Ice Cube who raised the blimp's street cred when he included a line about it in his 1992 song titled 'It Was A Good Day.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The iconic Goodyear Blimp is 100. To celebrate, a flight over Ohio
The iconic Goodyear airships are taking a victory lap over the skies of an Ohio city this week. The Akron-based tire company is celebrating the 100th anniversary of 'Pilgrim,' its first blimp to take flight just outside of the city on June 3, 1925. Goodyear began experimenting with vessels that would be lighter than aircraft in the early 1900s, and the dirigibles have since become a lasting and iconic symbol of the corporate brand. For some, it evokes nostalgia, while for others it offers a glimpse into a larger-than-life part of advertisement history. Here is a by-the-numbers look at Goodyear airships over time: 1910 Goodyear establishes an Aeronautics Department to build lighter-than-air aircrafts, and by 1912 the company had built its first balloon. In 1930, the 'Defender' blimp became the first airship in the world to carry a lit neon sign so the company's name could be seen after dark. Goodyear began making airships for the U.S. Navy in 1917, and its first blimp — the first commercial non-rigid airship flown using helium — launched years later, becoming a marketing tool. From 1942 to 1944, the company built more than 150 airships for the Navy to serve in World War II, flying patrol over warships on the seas with zero reported loss of ships when a blimp was on watch. New Year's Day 1955 The Goodyear Blimp has been a regular at major sporting events since flying above the 1955 Rose Bowl. A few years later, it became a service vehicle for television coverage while simultaneously functioning as a highly visible advertising platform. Since that time, blimps have undergone wholesale changes and improved dramatically: steering technology; safety innovations; high-definition cameras; aerial views captured with specialized systems that compensate for movement during filming, resulting in stable and smooth footage footage; and much quieter rides thanks to relocated engines and propellers. 4 blimps There currently are four Goodyear Blimps — the three in the U.S. and one in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Today's Goodyear Blimps are semi-rigid dirigibles, meaning they have an internal frame as compared to previous eras of blimps that could be fully deflated. In 2014, Goodyear transitioned to the New Technology semi-rigid airship platform designed to allow for improved maneuverability and speed. 246 feet The Goodyear Blimp is 246 feet long (75 meters), which would cover about 80% of a football field. It is 58 feet (18 meters) high and holds three Olympic-sized swimming pools' worth of helium. Goodyear gets helium for its blimps from multiple sources. Because helium is a finite resource, the company purifies its helium every six to eight weeks to extend its life. The blimp travels more than 100 days per year, with trips ranging anywhere from three days to three weeks. A crew of nearly 20 people travel with the airship whenever it is touring. Today's Goodyear Blimps fly between 1,000 and 1,500 feet (305 meters and 457 meters) in the air and travel at speeds up to 73 miles per hour (117 kilometers per hour). 10 blimp pilots There currently are fewer blimp pilots in the world than astronauts, according to Goodyear, which has 10 full-time pilots. To serve in that job, you must have a commercial pilot license followed by approximately 250 hours of training to earn an additional lighter-than-air airship rating from the Federal Aviation Administration. 2,500 and 500,000 The blimp has covered more than 2,500 events and taken more than 500,000 passengers for rides, according to Goodyear. Former President Ronald Reagan might be the most famous passenger, but it was rapper Ice Cube who raised the blimp's street cred when he included a line about it in his 1992 song titled 'It Was A Good Day.' Bruce Shipkowski, The Associated Press
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The iconic Goodyear Blimp is 100. To celebrate, a flight over Ohio
The iconic Goodyear airships are taking a victory lap over the skies of an Ohio city this week. The Akron-based tire company is celebrating the 100th anniversary of 'Pilgrim,' its first blimp to take flight just outside of the city on June 3, 1925. Goodyear began experimenting with vessels that would be lighter than aircraft in the early 1900s, and the dirigibles have since become a lasting and iconic symbol of the corporate brand. For some, it evokes nostalgia, while for others it offers a glimpse into a larger-than-life part of advertisement history. Here is a by-the-numbers look at Goodyear airships over time: 1910 Goodyear establishes an Aeronautics Department to build lighter-than-air aircrafts, and by 1912 the company had built its first balloon. In 1930, the 'Defender' blimp became the first airship in the world to carry a lit neon sign so the company's name could be seen after dark. Goodyear began making airships for the U.S. Navy in 1917, and its first blimp — the first commercial non-rigid airship flown using helium — launched years later, becoming a marketing tool. From 1942 to 1944, the company built more than 150 airships for the Navy to serve in World War II, flying patrol over warships on the seas with zero reported loss of ships when a blimp was on watch. New Year's Day 1955 The Goodyear Blimp has been a regular at major sporting events since flying above the 1955 Rose Bowl. A few years later, it became a service vehicle for television coverage while simultaneously functioning as a highly visible advertising platform. Since that time, blimps have undergone wholesale changes and improved dramatically: steering technology; safety innovations; high-definition cameras; aerial views captured with specialized systems that compensate for movement during filming, resulting in stable and smooth footage footage; and much quieter rides thanks to relocated engines and propellers. 4 blimps There currently are four Goodyear Blimps — the three in the U.S. and one in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Today's Goodyear Blimps are semi-rigid dirigibles, meaning they have an internal frame as compared to previous eras of blimps that could be fully deflated. In 2014, Goodyear transitioned to the New Technology semi-rigid airship platform designed to allow for improved maneuverability and speed. 246 feet The Goodyear Blimp is 246 feet long (75 meters), which would cover about 80% of a football field. It is 58 feet (18 meters) high and holds three Olympic-sized swimming pools' worth of helium. Goodyear gets helium for its blimps from multiple sources. Because helium is a finite resource, the company purifies its helium every six to eight weeks to extend its life. The blimp travels more than 100 days per year, with trips ranging anywhere from three days to three weeks. A crew of nearly 20 people travel with the airship whenever it is touring. Today's Goodyear Blimps fly between 1,000 and 1,500 feet (305 meters and 457 meters) in the air and travel at speeds up to 73 miles per hour (117 kilometers per hour). 10 blimp pilots There currently are fewer blimp pilots in the world than astronauts, according to Goodyear, which has 10 full-time pilots. To serve in that job, you must have a commercial pilot license followed by approximately 250 hours of training to earn an additional lighter-than-air airship rating from the Federal Aviation Administration. 2,500 and 500,000 The blimp has covered more than 2,500 events and taken more than 500,000 passengers for rides, according to Goodyear. Former President Ronald Reagan might be the most famous passenger, but it was rapper Ice Cube who raised the blimp's street cred when he included a line about it in his 1992 song titled 'It Was A Good Day.'
