Trump mentioned he trusted Putin to maintain a Ukraine peace deal
President Trump met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain in Washington yesterday. Whereas sitting beside the British chief within the Oval Workplace, Trump mentioned repeatedly that he believed that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s chief, wouldn’t violate the phrases of no matter peace deal could be reached to finish the warfare in Ukraine. Here’s the latest.
“I feel he’ll hold his phrase,” Trump mentioned. “I’ve identified him for a very long time now.”
His angle towards Moscow may hardly be extra completely different than Starmer’s, who had come to the White Home to pledge troops to a postwar peacekeeping effort, and to induce Trump to not abandon Ukraine to Putin’s calls for.
Trump was requested if the U.S. would help Britain ought to they ship peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, just for Russia to renege on a peace deal. The president waffled. Within the span of 1 minute, Trump appeared to say no, then sure, earlier than touchdown again on no.
“They don’t need assistance,” he mentioned.
Tariffs: Trump mentioned that Canada and Mexico tariffs would go into effect on March 4, claiming that the nations had nonetheless not completed sufficient to cease the movement of medication into the U.S. He mentioned on social media that China would face a further 10 p.c tariff subsequent week.
Tons of have been rescued from a worldwide rip-off trade
Tons of of individuals have been rescued in recent days from forced labor facilities in Myanmar that have been devoted to a multibillion greenback trade of on-line scams. 1000’s of individuals from dozens of countries have been duped and smuggled into the world by Chinese language gangsters and militia commanders from Myanmar, in accordance with the U.N.
Rescue missions, coordinated by officers in Thailand, Myanmar and China, have been pitched as a blow to the trade. However building staff in these rip-off facilities — some in Myanmar’s borderlands are as large as cities — proceed to construct new warehouses for crime.
Background: After a army coup in Myanmar in 2021 and the following civil warfare, the nation’s border with Thailand has grow to be one of the vital lawless and profitable locations on Earth.
Abuse: Individuals pressured to work these frauds have been subjected to electrical shocks and tied up in a pose that mimics crucifixion, mentioned those that had witnessed the abuse or had been tortured themselves. “All I did was rip-off and sleep,” one rescued worker said.
Thailand deported dozens of Uyghurs to China
Thailand sent 40 Uyghur asylum seekers again to China yesterday. The act drew a pointy rebuke from U.N. officers and activists who had lengthy warned that the lads may face torture and long-term imprisonment upon their return. That they had been detained in Bangkok for over a decade and have been a part of a wave of greater than 300 individuals who fled China in 2014.
Context: The deportations, which Thai officers mentioned got here at Beijing’s request, are a serious victory for China and present its rising clout within the area in distinction to the U.S.
Gene Hackman, who by no means match the mould of a film star however turned one all the identical, has died at 95. He and his spouse have been discovered lifeless at their residence in New Mexico. The authorities are investigating.
Hackman was identified for imbuing seemingly bizarre characters with subtlety and depth in a few of the most famous movies of the Nineteen Seventies and ’80s, together with “The French Connection” and “Mississippi Burning.” Right here’s a information to 12 of his most memorable performances.
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An thrilling, unpredictable Academy Awards
The Oscars are on Sunday, and the race for finest image has been filled with twists and turns. However no less than the uncertainty has supplied a break from years of winners that have been virtually preordained.
This season, “Emilia Pérez” was main the pack for the large prize however bought snarled up in social-media controversy. Now we predict “Anora” has the strongest likelihood to win finest image, regardless of being shut out on the Golden Globes. Our columnist has more predictions.
Only a gig: As Conan O’Brien prepares to host the Oscars, he has been gripped by sheer terror. (He’ll be internet hosting anyway — “I want the cash,” he quipped in an interview.)