Category: World

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently thanked several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for their help in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This was his first public comment on Ukraine’s proposal for a ceasefire (a stop to fighting).

Speaking at a news conference with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said he agrees with the idea of stopping hostilities but wants to make sure that this pause leads to lasting peace and addresses the main reasons for the conflict.

When asked about Ukraine’s willingness to pause the fighting, Putin said he believes that the Ukrainian government, influenced by the US, is looking for a ceasefire. He mentioned recent discussions between US and Ukraine officials in Saudi Arabia, suggesting that Ukraine’s interest in stopping the fighting may have come from pressure from the United States.

On March 11, Ukraine said it was ready to accept a US proposal for a “30-day ceasefire,” which could be extended if both sides agreed and if Russia accepted it.

President Donald Trump expressed his support for Ukraine’s acceptance of the ceasefire and hoped that Russia would agree as well. He emphasized that a ceasefire is necessary to stop the tragic loss of life on both sides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Trump’s efforts towards resolving the conflict. In February, Modi stated that India believes in finding a solution through dialogue, not violence. He reiterated that India is not neutral but stands for peace.

Modi has had talks with leaders from both Russia and Ukraine. He emphasized that misunderstandings exist about India’s stance, and he confirmed that India is committed to peace and a peaceful resolution.

Last year, Modi traveled to both Russia and Ukraine to promote dialogue and peaceful solutions.

DUBAI, UAE – In early March, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent a lot of aluminium to the U.S. before new tariffs started on March 15. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the UAE shipped over 68,000 metric tons of aluminium in just the first 11 days of the month. This is a huge increase compared to only about 16,000 metric tons sent in all of March last year.

These exports are the highest they’ve been in nearly two years! The move comes after President Donald Trump put a 25% tariff on all foreign steel and aluminium imports to boost U.S. production. Last year, Canada was the top supplier, providing 70% of the aluminium used in the U.S., while the UAE was second, supplying 8%.

After Canada announced its own 25% tariffs on U.S. imports, including aluminium, American buyers might seek out other suppliers due to the rising tensions. Yulia Buchneva, a director at Fitch Ratings, mentioned that UAE producers have lower costs compared to Canadian ones, making it still profitable to send aluminium to the U.S. even with tariffs.

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), one of the largest aluminium producers, expects there will be ups and downs in aluminium prices throughout 2025 because of global trade issues. Demand for aluminium from U.S. users is likely to rise as they seek alternatives. Right now, aluminium prices are around $2,675 per metric ton, after peaking in February.

This news comes from an automated news agency feed.

Less than a year ago, Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword added a cool new game called NYT Strands. In this game, you can choose from different “spangrams” or daily themes. As of Thursday, March 13, 2025, there’s a new puzzle for players to enjoy. If you need some help solving today’s Strands, don’t worry, we’ve got your back!

Today’s theme hint is: “What goes around comes around.” If you’re stuck, think about words that mean “turnaround.” Here are some hints for a couple of words related to today’s theme:

– Hint #1: It’s a curved piece of wood that spins back when thrown (think of a boomerang).
– Hint #2: A bullet that bounces off a surface when it’s fired wrongly (that’s called a ricochet).

Wordle has become a favorite game for word lovers. The challenge is simple: can you guess the right five-letter word in six tries? Every day brings a new Wordle puzzle just waiting for you to solve it!

Today’s Wordle is extra exciting. Even if you don’t get it right, the fun is in trying. Winning or losing doesn’t matter; the thrill of the challenge is what keeps players coming back. Ready to play?

Hints for March 13, 2025:
– The word you need to guess is related to “pursuing.”
– Each letter is different—no repeating letters!
– The first letter of the word is C.

Think you can solve it? If you want to give it a shot, go ahead and start guessing! If you’d rather know the answer, just keep reading.

The Answer for March 13, 2025:
Today’s Wordle answer is “Chase.” Don’t worry if you couldn’t guess it—there’s always tomorrow to try again!

What is Wordle?
Wordle is a daily word game created by Josh Wardle, a software engineer from Brooklyn. Since October 2021, players enjoy a new puzzle each day, using clues to figure out the word.

How to Play Wordle:
The game starts with a grid of boxes for your guesses. Each guess is a five-letter word. The color will help you know how close you are:
– Green means the letter is correct and in the right spot.
– Yellow means the letter is in the word but in the wrong spot.
– Gray means the letter isn’t in the word at all.

Have fun playing Wordle today!

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte recently shared a video on Facebook where he said he takes full responsibility for his “war on drugs.” This comes as he prepares to face legal charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. In the video, which gained 10 million views, Duterte spoke while on a plane, wearing a plain white shirt. He reassured his supporters that he is fine and will continue to serve his country.

Duterte was arrested in Manila on serious charges of murder connected to his anti-drug campaign, which led to thousands of deaths. He stated, “Whatever happened in the past, I will protect our law enforcement and military.” The ICC has accused him of creating and funding death squads that killed many people suspected of drug use or dealing.

At 79 years old, he could become the first former Asian leader to go on trial at the ICC. While Duterte faces a long legal battle, he remains optimistic about his future. His daughter, Sara Duterte, who is also the current vice president, is already in The Hague to support him during this challenging time.

After Donald Trump put new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum, Canada said it will respond with its own taxes on about C$30 billion (around $20.8 billion) of products from the U.S. Trump announced this on his Truth Social account, saying he would raise the tariff on steel and aluminum from Canada to 50%. This change took place today. Since becoming president again, Trump has set high taxes on countries like Canada, Mexico, and China, while promising new taxes from April 2.

These new taxes will hurt Canada because it provides a large part of U.S. aluminum (50%) and steel (20%). U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the higher tariffs would stay in place until American companies can make more steel and aluminum. He believes this move is necessary to ensure fair trade and that negotiations with Canada will be ongoing.

Trump also warned Canada that if it does not lower its own tariffs, he will increase taxes on cars coming from Canada, which could put many Canadian car factories out of business. Trump mentioned he might also stop the U.S. government’s defense support for Canada unless Canada becomes the 51st state of the U.S.

New Delhi – The European Union (EU) has shown support for Ukraine after it agreed to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. This decision was made after discussions between American and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia. The EU, made up of 27 countries, is ready to help Ukraine and its partners with the next steps. However, it is still unclear if Russia will agree to this ceasefire, as the Kremlin is waiting for information from the United States about the talks that took place in Jeddah.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, said the EU welcomes the agreement between Ukraine and the US. She emphasized that the EU wants to help Ukraine achieve a fair and lasting peace based on international laws. Kallas mentioned that if Russia accepts the ceasefire proposal, it could be an important move toward peace. Now, it’s up to Russia to show if it wants to work for peace.

In a joint statement, Ukraine and the US said Ukraine is willing to accept a ceasefire that lasts 30 days. This ceasefire can be extended if both sides agree, and it will only be valid if Russia also agrees. The US will let Russia know that cooperation from them is essential for peace. Additionally, the US will restart sharing intelligence and security assistance to Ukraine immediately.

Sergey Lavrov, the former Foreign Minister of Russia, believes that Russia’s goals will never match those of the United States. He welcomed Donald Trump’s return as president, calling it a “return to normalcy.” Lavrov made these comments after the U.S. and Ukraine agreed on a ceasefire in their conflict with Russia.

On March 11, 2025, leaders from the U.S. and Ukraine met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss a 30-day ceasefire, waiting for Russia’s reply. In a recent interview with a group of American bloggers, Lavrov said that with Trump back in power, things are turning back to normal. He mentioned that the reactions he sees in media and politics worldwide are interesting.

Lavrov also discussed a meeting in Riyadh, where U.S. officials expressed a desire to improve relations with Russia based on each country’s interests. He noted that the U.S. and Russia will never fully agree on their goals, but they should work together when interests do align. However, they must also prevent disagreements from escalating into military confrontations, which could harm many nations.

When asked why Russia attacked Ukraine, Lavrov repeated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s view. He claims that the military operation began because all diplomatic efforts over ten years failed after a political crisis in Ukraine. Lavrov thinks the U.S. will not leave NATO, despite what some may speculate about Trump’s views on security guarantees for Ukraine.

Russia argues that the attack on Ukraine was prompted by President Zelenskyy’s plans to join NATO, which they see as unacceptable. Lavrov insists that Trump believes the war in Ukraine should never have started, saying it goes against Ukraine’s own history and Constitution, which promised neutrality and respect for minorities.

Lavrov also touched on the growing relationship between Russia and China, stating that the U.S. must understand that Russia will keep its commitments to China.

Last year, a woman named Jada Bell claimed that her cousin, Le’Veon Bell, a former NFL player, abused her when she was just six years old. She says this went on until she turned 18. Jada filed a lawsuit in Ohio, saying that Le’Veon hurt her for many years. Recently, a jury decided that Le’Veon should pay her $25 million for what she went through: $20 million for damages and $5 million as a punishment.

Le’Veon Bell strongly denies these accusations. His brother, La’Vonte, was also ordered to pay Jada over $11 million for his role in the situation. According to court documents, Jada said that Le’Veon would visit Ohio while he was in college and would tell her what to do during these visits, using slang terms that made it sound casual.

Le’Veon Bell, who previously played for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets, is known to support Donald Trump. After the jury’s decision, he wrote on social media that he believes he is being unfairly attacked because he supports Trump. He shared that being a Black man supporting Trump makes people want to come after him.

Le’Veon’s lawyer stated that his client never received any legal papers about the court case and insisted that they plan to challenge the judgment. They believe Le’Veon’s rights were not respected during the process, especially his right to have a fair defense.

A new video from a surveillance camera shows missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, who is 20 years old and of Indian background, smiling and holding hands with a man before she disappeared. Sudiksha went missing while on vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during spring break. The last time anyone saw her was on March 6 at 4:50 a.m. at the Riu Republica Resort’s beach.

According to the news outlet Noticias SIN, this video is the last clear image of Sudiksha. It shows her walking down a path at the resort with friends, and it came out after the FBI joined the search for her. In the video, Sudiksha can be seen with her arm around the man’s back as they walk with others. They were having a good time at a disco around 3 a.m. before going to the beach.

The last person who saw Sudiksha was Joshua Stevem Ribe, a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa. He said he drank too much and passed out on the beach. When he woke up, Sudiksha was gone. He has talked to the police and given different stories about what happened before she disappeared. They are still trying to find out if something bad happened to her.

Local authorities say that both Dominican and U.S. officials are working together to investigate this case. The Dominican police released a statement saying they confirmed Sudiksha disappeared after 4:15 a.m. on March 6, and that they caught her on surveillance video just before she entered the beach area.

The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, mentioned that they are worried about Ribe’s changing stories. He said, “We are concerned. All government agencies are searching… because reports say that a wave crashed into them on the beach.