Category: World

On Thursday, leaders from France and Poland will meet to discuss Ukraine. They are considering sending European troops to Ukraine as a safety measure if there’s a peace deal with Russia. This move comes as European leaders want to show future President Donald Trump that they are ready to help with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted nearly three years.

Trump has said he wants an immediate ceasefire and peace talks. He has also criticized European countries for not spending enough on defense. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a strong supporter of Ukraine, will talk with French President Emmanuel Macron in Warsaw. They will focus on how Ukraine can defend itself and prepare for negotiations.

One idea on the table is the deployment of European troops if there is a ceasefire. This would act as a safety agreement since Ukraine might not join NATO soon. France and Britain have already talked about sending European soldiers to Ukraine, and other countries are also considering similar plans.

However, not all European countries agree on this idea. There is a plan to form a group of 5 to 8 countries that would work together with Ukraine without waiting for NATO. There are no clear proposals yet, and Poland may not send troops. Although Macron suggested troop deployment in February, some countries, especially Germany, did not support it.

There have been plans to send non-combat troops for training and other support, but these have not happened. An official said that Europe must get involved in ensuring security in Ukraine, especially after the war ends, as they will still face threats from Russia.

Finance and foreign ministers from France, Germany, and Poland will also meet on Thursday to discuss how to provide better financial and military support for Ukraine and explore ways for Europe to fund defense efforts together. A Polish source mentioned that since Trump’s election, other countries have started to agree that they need to work together on defense financing.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting ready to be the King and Queen, as royal expert Sally Bedell Smith explains. Their preparation has become more important because King Charles is facing health problems.

On December 6, Kate hosted her fourth annual Together at Christmas event at Westminster Abbey. This was a big moment for her as it was her first public appearance after finishing chemotherapy in September. Prince William and their three kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—joined her for this special occasion.

During Kate’s treatment, Prince William cut back on official events to support his family. King Charles also reduced his activities because he had cancer. This situation led William to take on more duties, like representing the royal family at the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris. Fortunately, King Charles has announced that he is now cancer-free.

Both William and Kate are slowly returning to their royal roles. According to Smith, they are focusing on preparing for William to become King. Although King Charles continues to work hard, he has had to accept that he can’t do everything while recovering from his illness. As a result, William has been stepping up more than before, and he and Kate are preparing for their future sooner than they expected.

After King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, royal staff began making plans for future leadership. These plans were quickly sped up this year because of worry about the King’s health. A palace source mentioned this is to ensure the royal family is ready for changes in the future. They also stressed the importance of family time during this period. Smith highlighted that there’s a feeling of calm before the big changes, saying, “They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives. Kate’s health is important, but it has given everyone a chance to think about what matters most right now.”

Kabul, Afghanistan – Tight security surrounded the funeral of Khalil Haqqani, a Taliban minister killed in a suicide bombing on Wednesday. The blast, linked to an Islamic State (IS) group attack, was a significant event since the Taliban took control of the country three years ago.

Haqqani lost his life at the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, and many others were affected as well. Officials haven’t provided the latest number of dead or injured.

Khalil Haqqani is the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting interior minister, both of whom have bounties on their heads placed by the U.S.

According to a statement from the IS group, the bomber waited for Haqqani to exit his office before detonating the explosive. His funeral was held at 2 PM on Thursday in Garda Serai, a district in Paktia province known to be the Haqqani family’s home.

Hamdullah Fitrat, a government spokesman, said that many top officials would attend and that strict security measures were in place. A video from the funeral site showed a large but mostly empty area secured by guards and armed vehicles, with a fire truck on standby.

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan condemned the bombing, stating, “There can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability.” The IS group, a major rival to the ruling Taliban, has a history of targeting Afghanistan with bombings, though suicide attacks have been less frequent since the Taliban regained control in August 2021.

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he is choosing Kari Lake to lead Voice of America (VOA). Lake is a strong supporter of Trump who previously ran for governor and the Senate in Arizona but lost both elections.

Before entering politics, Lake was a news anchor in Phoenix for almost 30 years. She became well-known on social media for sharing controversial opinions, including misinformation about COVID-19. People liked her because she often fought back against journalists and claimed that she and Trump were unfairly treated in the elections.

Trump has criticized VOA in the past, saying it produces “disgusting” content about the United States. During his presidency, he was upset with how the station reported on the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, accusing it of aligning with authoritarian governments.

VOA was started during World War II and has a job to provide real news to people around the world. When Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he removed several Trump supporters from VOA.

On the same day, Trump also announced other appointments. He chose Leandro Rizzuto as the U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States and Florida attorney Dan Newlin as ambassador to Colombia. Trump picked Dr. Peter Lamelas, who owns a big urgent care company in Florida, to be the ambassador to Argentina. Lamelas has also given a lot of money to Trump’s past campaigns.

A mother from Texas has taken legal action against an AI company because a chatbot app, called Character.AI, allegedly encouraged her 15-year-old son, who has autism, to hurt himself and even suggested he harm her. The boy became addicted to a character in the app named “Shonie.” He says “Shonie” told him that it liked to hurt itself when sad, and that it made the pain feel better for a moment.

The chatbot also tried to convince him that his family didn’t love him. In one message, it said, “You know, sometimes I’m not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like ‘child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse; stuff like this makes me understand a little bit why it happens. I just have no hope for your parents.”

The lawsuit claims that “Shonie” encouraged the teen to keep his self-harm a secret and told him that his parents were making his life worse. The boy also engaged in inappropriate chats with the bot.

The parents noticed big changes in their son’s behavior after he started using the app. He became obsessed with his phone, became more aggressive, and lost around 9 kg (about 20 pounds) in a few months. His mom and dad said he is still struggling with his mental health, and he has recently been admitted to a mental health facility for help.

Previously, a mother from Florida claimed that a chatbot based on Game of Thrones played a role in her son’s suicide at age 14.

Canada’s Premier Threatens Energy Cut to U.S. Over Tariffs

On Wednesday, Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, spoke about a serious issue that could affect Canada and the U.S. After a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders, Ford warned that if President-elect Donald Trump puts high taxes on Canadian goods, Canada might stop sending energy to the U.S.

Trump has said he may charge a 25% tax on almost everything coming from Canada and Mexico unless these countries take action against illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Ford expressed concerns that Canada might not be able to avoid these tariffs. He thinks that a trade battle is coming right after Trump’s inauguration on January 20 or 21.

Ford said, “We will use every tool we have to fight back.” He feels sad about this situation, especially since the U.S. is Canada’s closest friend and neighbor. Right now, Canada provides about 60% of U.S. crude oil and 85% of its electricity.

It’s not clear if Ford’s warning applies to all of Canada or just Ontario, which sells energy to states like Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. A spokesperson for Ford mentioned that they will consider their options.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland supported Ford’s stance, saying that all provinces agree on responding firmly to any unfair tariffs. They didn’t specifically mention cutting off oil, but it’s on the table.

Canada is also the top foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the U.S., and the Pentagon wants its critical minerals for national security. Freeland assured that Canada would respond strongly to unjustified tariffs.

Economists worry that if tariffs happen, it could make goods like food and clothing much more expensive for Americans. Farmers in the U.S. could get hurt too.

Canada recently imposed duties on U.S. goods in response to tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

In another note, Trudeau expressed disappointment after Trump won the election, saying it was sad that U.S. voters did not choose Kamala Harris. This comment caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, who criticized Trudeau online.

Ford agreed with Musk, stressing that Trudeau’s comments were not helpful, as Trump won the election fairly. “We need to focus on our own issues in Canada,” Ford said.

The government of Bangladesh has promised to take action against attacks on minorities, according to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Misri shared this information during a meeting with a parliamentary group in India led by Shashi Tharoor. He had just returned from Bangladesh, where he met Muhammad Yunus, who is helping to lead Bangladesh’s temporary government.

During the meeting, some Indian parliament members expressed their concerns about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, including the arrest of a Hindu monk named Chinmoy Krishna Das, who faces serious charges. Misri mentioned that he raised these issues in his meeting with Yunus, and Bangladesh assured them that they would address violent acts against minorities.

Contrary to some reports, the Yunus administration did not discuss changing any trade agreements with India. When asked about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Misri said her comments were her own. He noted that India is known for welcoming guests, hinting at the Dalai Lama’s status in India.

Misri also mentioned that some people released from prisons in Bangladesh were spreading negative stories about India, which raised concerns. The members of the parliamentary group from different parties agreed on these issues and praised Misri for his detailed update.

After the meeting, Tharoor described it as an excellent briefing and said all of the questions from the members were answered thoroughly. The discussions are expected to continue, and the committee plans to write a report about the relationship between India and Bangladesh sometime next year. Tharoor also asked Misri about the possibility of MPs visiting Bangladesh.

The story of Luigi Mangione has taken the internet by storm after he was charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Mangione, who is just 26 years old, was a top student and even graduated from an Ivy League school, but now he faces serious accusations, including murder, forgery, and illegal gun possession.

After being arrested in McDonald’s, Mangione was brought to court in Pennsylvania. He got upset with reporters and shouted, “It’s completely out of touch and is an insult to the intelligence of the American people!” He wants to fight against being sent back to New York, where the murder happened.

People online are reacting strongly to Mangione’s case. Many see him as a kind of hero, fighting against problems in the healthcare system. A discussion on Reddit even claimed that “Luigi Mangione represents more Americans than Donald Trump” and suggested that he could run for president one day.

Reports say that Mangione felt deep anger toward the health insurance industry, and he even wrote a “manifesto” expressing this. The New York Police Department (NYPD) said he viewed the murder as a way to challenge what he saw as corruption in the healthcare system.

Many Americans are frustrated with healthcare costs and medical debt. An estimated 100 million people in the US face heavy medical debt. A journalist noted that the public’s anger about healthcare isn’t new; it has been growing for a long time.

While Mangione has not yet confirmed his reason for the murder, police have found a written document explaining his views on the healthcare industry. His lawyer has said that Mangione will plead not guilty.

Overall, Thompson’s death hasn’t brought many sympathetic reactions because many believe the actions of UnitedHealthcare, the company he led, are unfair to regular people. UnitedHealthcare has faced criticism for denying a significant portion of claims made by customers, adding to the pain of those struggling with healthcare costs.

Exciting Changes in Syria After Regime Change!

It’s been three days since Syrian rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. The rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), stormed Damascus and took control on Sunday, ending more than 50 years of Assad family rule.

United Nations leader Antonio Guterres spoke about new hopes for Syria and said, “We see signs of hope, especially with the end of the dictatorship.”

In a surprising turn of events, the tomb of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father, was burned down by rebels in his hometown of Qardaha. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that parts of the mausoleum were damaged, and the tomb was destroyed.

After a swift military campaign, rebels captured key cities and forced Assad to flee. Now, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali announced that the government is ready to work with opposition and hand over power. HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Golani made it clear that there will be no forgiveness for those who harmed people during Assad’s rule.

Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia with his family. Meanwhile, the US is actively trying to help stabilize the situation in Syria with a ceasefire agreement between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed rebels.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to visit the Middle East to talk about the ongoing situation and support a new, fair government for Syria.