03 World

Impeached South Korean president released from prison – Morning Star Online

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Impeached South Korean president released from prison – Morning Star Online
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SOUTH KOREA’S impeached conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from prison on Saturday, a day after a Seoul court cancelled his arrest to allow him to stand trial for rebellion without being detained.

After walking out of a detention centre near Seoul, Mr Yoon waved and bowed deeply to his supporters, who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and US flags. Mr Yoon climbed into a black van headed to his presidential residence in Seoul.

In a statement distributed by his lawyers, Mr Yoon said that he “appreciates the courage and decision by the Seoul Central District Court to correct illegality,” in an apparent reference to legal disputes over his arrest.

Protesters block main state Serbian TV building as tensions soar ahead of a planned large rally – ABC News–

pgnewser March 11, 2025 1

Protesters block main state Serbian TV building as tensions soar ahead of a planned large rally – ABC News
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 Several hundred student protesters have blocked Serbia’s public television station building in Belgrade as tensions are soaring in the Balkan country days ahead of a planned large rally over the weekend billed as an endgame in months of anti-government demonstrations.

The students first blocked the TV building in central Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, late on Monday and several hundred gathered again early on Tuesday, after announcing that their blockade will last for at least 22 hours.

University students in Serbia are behind almost daily rallies that started after a concrete canopy crashed down in November at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad, killing 15 people. The protests have rocked populist rule of President Aleksandar Vucic and his firm grip on power.

With U.S. Aid Cuts No Longer a Threat, Rwanda Bets Big on Soft Power – The New York Times

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

With U.S. Aid Cuts No Longer a Threat, Rwanda Bets Big on Soft Power – The New York Times
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Since an armed rebel group backed by Rwandan troops launched a major offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo, professional cyclists have raced on lush Rwandan hills, John Legend performed a sold-out concert in the capital, Kigali, and entrepreneurs have gathered at a conference center for a financial technology convention.

Rwanda’s role in the war waged by the rebel group M23 has drawn criticism from the United States, China and the United Nations. But so far the strong words have done little to tarnish the country’s status as a premier destination for investors, tourists, athletes and celebrities.

In his first weeks in office, President Trump ended virtually all American foreign aid, cutting off development programs around the world and leaving the United States with one less negotiating tool when responding to conflicts. Now, with Mr. Trump attending to other crises and slashing government spending, experts say Rwanda is betting on its soft power and reputation as a security partner and investment hub in Africa to minimize the backlash to the offensive.

“Rwanda appears to have calculated that in this moment, the pressure will not be coordinated, and that it can weather the storm,” said Murithi Mutiga, the Africa director at the International Crisis Group.

US says will retaliate if Poland introduces tax on big tech – Fortune

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

US says will retaliate if Poland introduces tax on big tech – Fortune
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Poland will face consequences if it introduces a levy on large technology companies, the incoming US envoy to Warsaw warned on Monday, as the spat between the two allies escalated.

The government seeks to present a model to collect taxes from the so-called Big Tech firms in the coming months, Digitization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski was reported as saying by PAP newswire on Monday. Tom Rose, whom President Donald Trump appointed as the next US ambassador in Poland, called the plan “not very smart” in a post on social media platform X.

U.S. orders non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan amid escalating violence– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

U.S. orders non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan amid escalating violence– www.cbsnews.com
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The United States ordered the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from the capital of South Sudan, citing an increase in crime, kidnapping and armed conflict, the Department of State said Sunday.

The travel advisory level for South Sudan remains at Level 4, which means Americans should not travel to the African country.

“Violent crime, such as carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, and kidnappings are common throughout South Sudan, including Juba,” the advisory said. “Foreign nationals have been the victims of rape, sexual assault, armed robberies, and other violent crimes.”

It also said that the U.S. government has “limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan.”

An oil tanker and a cargo vessel have collided off England’s coast, authorities say– www.cbc.ca

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

An oil tanker and a cargo vessel have collided off England’s coast, authorities say– www.cbc.ca
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World·Breaking

Britain’s coast guard is responding to reports of a collision between an oil tanker and cargo vessel off England’s northeastern coast, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said on Monday.

A rescue helicopter has been called to attend the collision, coast guard says

Thomson Reuters ·

(CBC)

Britain’s coast guard is responding to reports of a collision between an oil tanker and cargo vessel off England’s northeastern coast, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said on Monday.

US demands release of alleged Mossad agent, threatens Iraq with political, economic ‘consequences’ – The Cradle

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

US demands release of alleged Mossad agent, threatens Iraq with political, economic ‘consequences’ – The Cradle
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The US has warned Iraq’s premier that there will be consequences unless he ensures the release of kidnapped Russian-Israeli academic Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby al-Jadeed reported on 10 March.

Citing two Iraqi officials, the Qatari daily said that US President Donald Trump threatened “political and economic consequences” if they did not resolve the issue.

Trump’s hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, has sent direct messages to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and “threatened a package of US punitive measures against Iraq, political and economic, if Tsurkov’s detention continued, and considered that the Iraqi government is responsible for returning her as soon as possible,” one official said.

Iraq’s national security advisor stated last week that authorities were actively searching for Tsurkov, who was abducted in March 2023 in Baghdad.

Tsurkov is a doctoral student at Princeton University and a former Israeli military intelligence analyst with alleged links to Mossad. While reporting on the war in Syria that started in 2011, the Israeli researcher enjoyed close ties to commanders and fighters from the Nusra Front – the Syrian wing of Al-Qaeda.

China’s 40-story gravity batteries threaten lithium’s energy reign – Interesting Engineering

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

China’s 40-story gravity batteries threaten lithium’s energy reign – Interesting Engineering
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As the global transition toward renewable energy accelerates, storing electricity generated by intermittent sources, such as solar and wind, becomes more urgent. Power production often plunges when the sun sets or the wind dies down. At the same time, demand can surge unexpectedly, placing strain on electric grids that are already juggling the stresses of an electrified future.

Enter gravity batteries, a technology that uses one of the simplest forces in nature—gravity—to store large amounts of energy. This approach, now being trialed in various forms worldwide, promises to offer a cleaner, more durable, and geopolitically flexible alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Here’s what you need to know about the technology, its viability, and some pioneering projects seeking to prove it on a grand scale.

Journalists Jailed in Chad Over Alleged Wagner Ties– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Journalists Jailed in Chad Over Alleged Wagner Ties– www.themoscowtimes.com
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Three journalists in Chad were jailed pending trial on charges of colluding with the Wagner private military company, the public prosecutor and one of the journalist’s lawyers said Monday.

“They are suspected of working with the Russian paramilitary group Wagner,” Public Prosecutor Omar Mahamat Kedelaye told AFP.

The journalists — Olivier Mbaindinguim Monodji, director of the weekly Le Pays and Chadian correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI); Le Pays editor Ndilyam Guekidata; and Tele Tchad journalist Mahamat Saleh Alhissein — were charged with espionage, conspiracy and attacking state institutions, lawyer Allahtaroum Amos said.

Kedelaye said the arrests stemmed from documents allegedly showing the journalists provided information on Chad’s security and economy, actions deemed to “harm Chad’s military or diplomatic situation or its economic interests.”

Mexican Officials Find Cartel Extermination Camp, Proof of at Least 200 Murders– lidblog.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Mexican Officials Find Cartel Extermination Camp, Proof of at Least 200 Murders– lidblog.com
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Authorities in Mexico have discovered an extermination camp run by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) where the drug dealers murdered at least 200 people, if not more.

When officials discovered the site, known as Rancho Izaguirre, they found hundreds of pairs of shoes, hundreds of backpacks, piles of clothes, and even a farewell letter written by one of the cartel’s victims, according to Maria Herrera Mellado at Gateway Hispanic.

Investigators found a large crematory where an untold number of human bodies had been incinerated. And they found human ashes and bone fragments in the ovens constructed there.

China ordered to pay Missouri $24B in COVID-19 dispute– www.stltoday.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

China ordered to pay Missouri $24B in COVID-19 dispute– www.stltoday.com
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JEFFERSON CITY — A federal judge in Cape Girardeau has ordered Chinese defendants to pay Missouri over $24 billion after finding they hoarded personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. said in a 32-page order Friday that Missouri showed defendants, including the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, hoarded PPE, violating federal law against monopolization or attempted monopolization of trade.

Limbaugh said the state’s evidence showed that defendants “engaged in monopolistic actions to hoard PPE through both the nationalization of U.S. factories and the direct hoarding of PPE manufactured or for sale in the United States.”

At the same time, the judgment said, China misled the world about the dangers and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate and extend the hoarding campaign.

Limbaugh entered a $24.5 billion default judgment in Missouri’s favor after no defendants appeared at a trial last month in Cape Girardeau.

British PM faces criticism over blocking legislation banning first-cousin marriage– www.foxnews.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

British PM faces criticism over blocking legislation banning first-cousin marriage– www.foxnews.com
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A former British Conservative minister and current MP renewed his push in Parliament last week for legislation that bans first-cousin marriage, prompting opposition from the ruling Labour party, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and a British-Muslim MP.

The Conservative MP Richard Holden said during a parliamentary debate, “A marriage between first cousins carries significant health issues, many of which aren’t even knowable until post-birth.” He added, “When practiced generation after generation, there is a significant multiplier effect.”

Adverse health effects on the children of first cousin marriages have been established in medical research. Holden added that “the real impacts on the openness of our society and women’s rights in our country are significant. After all, there are significant dynamics in sharing the same set of grandparents.”

Holden urged Starmer to “think again” about blocking his legislation from moving forward. Starmer responded to Holden, stating “We’ve taken our position on that Bill, thank you.”

Ethiopia’s Three Major Opposition Parties condemn Proposal for "Oromia Transitional Government" – borkena.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Ethiopia’s Three Major Opposition Parties condemn Proposal for “Oromia Transitional Government” – borkena.com
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Ethnic Oromo nationalist parties’ apparent move to exploit the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia to push for the formation of an Oromia state has triggered reactions from major political parties, as expected.

Three prominent political parties – the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP), Enat Party (EP), and Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) – released a joint statement this week condemning the initiative.

North Sea collision sparks fears of ‘devastating spill’ after cargo ship laden with toxic chemical smashes into oil tanker – GB News

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

North Sea collision sparks fears of ‘devastating spill’ after cargo ship laden with toxic chemical smashes into oil tanker – GB News
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This morning’s devastating collision between a cargo ship and an oil tanker in the North Sea could lead to a disaster on the British coast, officials have warned.

“Multiple explosions” were heard as the Stena Immaculate tanker was struck by the Solong container ship – which was carrying toxic compound sodium cyanide…

The tanker was operating as part of the US Government’s Tanker Security Programme – a fleet of commercial vessels which can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed.

And though its sodium cyanide payload can produce harmful gas when combined with water, it remains unclear whether there had been any leak.

Arrested Philippine ex-President Duterte to face legacy of thousands killed in drug crackdown– abcnews.go.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Arrested Philippine ex-President Duterte to face legacy of thousands killed in drug crackdown– abcnews.go.com
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MANILA, Philippines — Philippine ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, who left a savage legacy over his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, was arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in a war he waged against drugs in a political career spanning decades. His detention capped an international investigation into killings, which unfolded for more than a dozen years..

Duterte again came under the spotlight during a weekend trip to Hong Kong when the trip sparked speculation that he may have gone into exile while on a trip to Hong Kong to evade a looming international arrest warrant. He had appeared as the main speaker on Sunday at a gathering of thousands of cheering and flag-waving Filipino expatriates, who jammed Southorn Stadium in downtown Wan Chai district.

Now 79 and in poor health, Duterte campaigned for his political party’s senatorial candidates ahead of the May 12 mid-term elections in the Philippines. He said he was aware the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest over his campaign against illegal drugs that left thousands of suspects dead.

He again tried to justify the brutal crackdown and the crowd cheered him on. Police arrested him as he got off the plane at Manilla International Airport based on an ICC warrant.

Here’s more about Duterte, his ICC case and what lies ahead for one of Asia’s most unorthodox leaders in his time:

Duterte, a former prosecutor, congressman and longtime mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, built a political name with his expletive-laced outbursts against the elites, the dominant Roman Catholic church and the West. He was also seen as pro-poor and a populist, but he is perhaps best remembered for his brutal approach to criminality, particularly illegal drugs.

Kim Jong Un Tests Trump With Ballistic Missile Launch – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Kim Jong Un Tests Trump With Ballistic Missile Launch – PJ Media– pjmedia.com
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U.S. and South Korea began their first major joint military exercise of President Donald Trump’s second term on Monday, and soon after North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the sea.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were fired from the North’s southwestern Hwanghae Province and were classified as close-range. In response, South Korea’s military has heightened its surveillance and is working closely with U.S. forces to monitor the situation.

“We are aware of the DPRK’s multiple ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners. The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. “While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad.”

Fox News Digital has more:

The launches come after South Korean and U.S. forces began their annual Freedom Shield exercise Monday.

“Freedom Shield is an 11-day exercise conducted by the Republic of Korea and the United States consisting of training to reflect the Korea Theater of Operations – a combined, joint, multi-domain, and interagency operating environment,” according to the U.S. Army.

“Field training events throughout FS25 include urban combat operations, field hospital operations, mass casualty treatment and evacuation, field artillery exercises, air assault training, wet gap crossing, air defense artillery asset deployment and validation, and a joint assault exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps,” the Army added.

However, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry is calling the exercises an “aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal.”

Zelensky arrives in Saudi Arabia for crucial peace talks with US officials– www.france24.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Zelensky arrives in Saudi Arabia for crucial peace talks with US officials– www.france24.com
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Saudi Arabia for crucial talks on ending the war with Russia. He is scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before joining US and Ukrainian officials for negotiations on a peace framework and potential ceasefire. The talks in Jeddah mark the first meeting between the two sides since Zelensky’s White House visit last month. Here is Philip Turle’s analysis.

Trump Doesn’t Need Maduro’s Cooperation To Deport Venezuelans– thefederalist.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Trump Doesn’t Need Maduro’s Cooperation To Deport Venezuelans– thefederalist.com
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The agreement that President Donald Trump in January foisted on leftist Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro to accept thousands of Venezuelan air deportees is teetering. Maduro is mad because the Trump administration canceled a license allowing Chevron to operate in the South American country, citing the fact that Maduro has only accepted a few hundred criminal alien Venezuelans.

The Trump administration should let that deal fail and be glad, because it was never needed. Most of the nearly 1 million Venezuelans who illegally crossed the U.S. southern border were living contentedly in more than 20 other peaceful countries for years before they realized the Biden administration would grant them an American lifestyle upgrade. Many Venezuelan migrants were granted U.S. asylum by lying about the fact that they had lived for years already in other safe, welcoming countries.

The Trump administration can readily — and in good conscience — just send them back to these other countries in Latin America and Europe that already accepted them once, and had provided residency, asylum, and work authorization status.

News24 | Ukraine launches drone attack wave on Moscow, killing one and shutting down airports– www.news24.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

News24 | Ukraine launches drone attack wave on Moscow, killing one and shutting down airports– www.news24.com
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Ukraine has launched a “massive” drone attack against Moscow that killed at least one person, injured several others and saw the shutdown of airports and damaged residential buildings, officials and aviation authorities said.

Russian Army Reports Major Advances in Kursk Region After ‘Operation Pipeline’– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Russian Army Reports Major Advances in Kursk Region After ‘Operation Pipeline’– www.themoscowtimes.com
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Russia has reclaimed more than 100 square kilometers (38.6 square miles) of territory and 12 villages from Ukrainian forces in the southwestern Kursk region over the past 24 hours, the Russian military said Tuesday.

“The North Group of Forces has liberated 12 settlements during offensive actions… and more than 100 square kilometers of the Kursk region,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a daily briefing.

The retaken settlements include Agronom, Bogdanovka, Bondarevka, Dmitryukov, Zazulevka, Ivashkovskiy, Kolmakov, Kubatkin, Martynovka, Mikhaylovka, Pravda and Yuzhny, all located just north or east of the Ukrainian-held city of Sudzha.

Russia’s significant advances this past month, which analysts say put Ukrainian forces at risk of encirclement, appear to have taken advantage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine.

Playing his ‘Trump card,’ Putin goes for the kill to force Zelensky’s hand– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Playing his ‘Trump card,’ Putin goes for the kill to force Zelensky’s hand– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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PUTIN’S POWER PLAY: Emboldened by President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid and intelligence to Ukraine, Russian forces have stepped up the pace of air attacks and redoubled efforts to take back captured territory in the Kursk region in what appears to be an attempt to solidify its battlefield position ahead of a forced surrender by Kyiv.

Ukrainian troops in the field suspect that the U.S. is not just hurting Ukraine, but helping Russian forces in the Kursk region, who seem to have new intelligence about Ukrainian positions as they attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces and retake the tiny sliver of Russian territory that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hoped to use as one of his few bargaining chips in any peace negotiation. Ukrainian soldiers in the border region have complained on X that they come under instant heavy attack as soon as they activate their Starlink terminals.

“Throughout this week, Russia has carried out hundreds of attacks against our people using various types of weapons: around 1,200 guided aerial bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and over 80 missiles of different types,” Zelensky posted on X over the weekend, ahead of a scheduled trip to Saudi Arabia today. Zelensky said a Saturday attack in Dobropillya, a city in the Donetsk region, was “one of the most brutal” striking civilians targets, including nine residential buildings, a shopping center, and killing 11 people.

Musk and Rubio spar with Polish minister over Ukraine’s use of Starlink – BBC.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Musk and Rubio spar with Polish minister over Ukraine’s use of Starlink – BBC.com
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk have clashed with Poland’s foreign minister over the use of the tech billionaire’s Starlink satellite internet system in Ukraine.

Musk said on X that Ukraine’s “entire front line” would collapse if he turned the system off. Radoslaw Sikorski responded, saying his country paid for its use in Ukraine and a threat to shut it down would result in a search for another network.

Rubio dismissed Sikorski’s claims and told him to be grateful, while Musk called him a “small man”.

The exchange appeared to lead to Polish PM Donald Tusk calling on his country’s allies to show respect for their weaker partners, rather than arrogance.

Starlink’s system is part of SpaceX’s venture to provide high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas. It has been used extensively by the Ukrainian military.

Elon Musk floats drastic measure against Ukraine that would ‘immediately’ end war with Russia – Daily Mail

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Elon Musk floats drastic measure against Ukraine that would ‘immediately’ end war with Russia – Daily Mail
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Tech titan Elon Musk has suggested crippling sanctions on Ukraine’s oligarchs is the key to halting the nation’s bloody conflict with Russia

Musk, 53, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, called for sanctions targeting Ukraine’s wealthiest elite in a post on X Sunday morning.

The stunning intervention was a radical departure from the current strategy focused on punishing Russia for its unprovoked invasion of the country.

‘Place sanctions on the top 10 Ukrainian oligarchs, especially the ones with mansions in Monaco, and this will stop immediately. That is the key to the puzzle,’ Musk wrote bluntly.

The remark comes at the end of a week of intensive debate in Washington over whether continued US financial and military aid to Kyiv is sustainable as the war drags on with no clear end in sight.

Republican Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) recently argued that the US shouldn’t offer ‘another penny’ to Ukraine – a view echoed by growing segments of the American public weary of the seemingly endless bloodshed and multibillion-dollar aid packages.

US demanding Ukraine trade land for peace, as talks with Rubio open in Saudi Arabia– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

US demanding Ukraine trade land for peace, as talks with Rubio open in Saudi Arabia– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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RUBIO: ‘THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION’: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Saudi Arabia for face-to-face talks with a delegation consisting of Ukraine’s foreign minister, defense minister, and national security adviser to determine what concessions Ukraine is willing to make to end the three-year war with Russia.

Rubio told reporters en route to Jeddah that Ukraine must utter no magic words, but he is looking for signs that Ukraine is ready to make painful concessions to achieve a lasting peace deal. “I mean, right now, we’re really in listening mode,” Rubio said. “We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they’d be willing to make, because you’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.”

“We’re not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map, but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them and what they would need in return, and then find out what the Russian position is in that regard,” Rubio said. “At some point soon, obviously, we’ll have to go back and establish a process by which we can determine what the Russian positions are in this regard and see how far apart we are,” he said.

Zelensky Says ‘Sorry’ To Trump For Oval Office Showdown: Big Revelation Before U.S.-Ukraine Talks – The Times of India

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Zelensky Says ‘Sorry’ To Trump For Oval Office Showdown: Big Revelation Before U.S.-Ukraine Talks – The Times of India
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U.S. President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has said that the Ukrainian President apologized to Trump in a letter after the unruly public argument during an Oval Office meeting. “Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff told Fox News, adding that that was an important step toward rapprochement between both sides. The revelation comes just hours before Zelensky is set to meet Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia for talks to end Russia’s war.

Syria’s new government vows to investigate mass killings | World News– news.sky.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Syria’s new government vows to investigate mass killings | World News– news.sky.com
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Syria’s new government has formed a committee to investigate reported mass revenge killings of a minority group – after the United Nations human rights chief called for “swift actions”.

Violent clashes, which a war monitoring group said had already killed 1,311 people, have continued for a fourth day in deposed president Bashar al Assad‘s coastal heartland.

Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement: “The caretaker authorities’ announcements of their intention to respect the law must be followed by swift actions to protect Syrians, including by taking all necessary measures to prevent any violations and abuses and achieve accountability when these occur.”

Alawite Genocide in Syria as Local Journalist Says ‘Only Israel Stands by Us’ – The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Alawite Genocide in Syria as Local Journalist Says ‘Only Israel Stands by Us’ – The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com
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The conflict in Syria took a gruesome turn as reports emerged on Sunday of a large-scale massacre of Alawites in northern Syria. Witnesses and analysts describe an ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing, with the Alawite minority being targeted in what some are calling a genocide.

Islamists aligned with Syria’s interim government massacred hundreds of ethnic Alawites after members of that minority attacked security forces loyal to the interim government in the Latakia province. The Assad family, which ruled Syria from 1971-2024 are Alawites, an ethnic minority who make up 12% of Syria’s population. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 745 unarmed Alawite civilians have been killed, along with 150 armed Alawites and 125 members of the newly established Syrian regime.

Syria announces the end of a military operation against Assad-linked gunmen in a coastal region – WTOP

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Syria announces the end of a military operation against Assad-linked gunmen in a coastal region – WTOP
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Syria’s interim government signed a deal Monday with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country’s northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main U.S.-backed force there into the Syrian army.

The deal is a major breakthrough that would bring most of Syria under the control of the government, which is led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that led the ouster of President Bashar Assad in December.

The deal was signed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

The deal to be implemented by the end of the year would bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, airports and oil fields in the northeast under the central government’s control. Prisons where about

Kremlin Says It Seeks Unity for Syria Amid Rising Violence and Unrest– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser March 11, 2025 0

Kremlin Says It Seeks Unity for Syria Amid Rising Violence and Unrest– www.themoscowtimes.com
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Russia is in contact with other countries regarding the recent wave of violence in Syria and wants the war-torn country to remain “united,” the Kremlin said Tuesday.

Days of unrest in Syria’s Alawite heartland have posed the most serious threat to the country’s stability since President Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December.

“We are ready and in contact with other countries on the Syrian issue,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow “wants to see Syria united, prosperous and friendly.”

Assad fled to Russia after being ousted by rebel groups following more than 13 years of civil war. Moscow had been his key military and political backer, helping to turn the tide of the conflict in his favor when it first intervened.