Putin says Russia ready to take Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region ‘by force’

Recent discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. negotiators have been characterized as constructive, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Analysts in Russia express mixed views, with some believing Ukraine obstructs peace efforts, while others suggest Putin's ambitions may hinder resolution.

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming that new restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on press access and reporting violate press freedoms and chill independent journalism. The lawsuit highlights concerns over limited access to vital national security information for journalists covering the military.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Ukraine's National Security Council Chief Rustem Umerov in Miami, following a five-hour discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This meeting is part of Washington's intensified diplomatic efforts to establish a pathway to peace in Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflict and instability in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that President Trump will engage in efforts to resolve the ongoing civil war in Sudan, asserting that Trump is uniquely positioned to address the crisis. This involvement comes as violence continues to escalate in the region, prompting international concern and calls for intervention.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was serving a 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking in the United States. This decision comes amid Trump's claims of intensifying efforts to combat drug trafficking from Venezuela, raising questions about his commitment to a drug war narrative while pardoning a convicted trafficker.

A report by Amnesty International has revealed severe human rights violations at the Florida immigration detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' where detainees were reportedly shackled and left in a metal cage without water for extended periods. This alarming situation raises significant concerns about the treatment of individuals in immigration detention.

In March 2018, a novichok poisoning incident in Salisbury targeted former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, leading to his recovery but resulting in the death of innocent British citizen Dawn Sturgess. An inquiry has been conducted to investigate the attack, the response of emergency services, and the broader implications of this international incident.

President Trump is set to host the signing of a peace deal between the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Rwanda in Washington, aiming to foster stability in the resource-rich region. This agreement is seen as a crucial step towards reducing tensions that have historically plagued the two nations.