Donald Trump has royally irked the Canadians, and their elbows are up, as they say in the world of ice hockey. Listen to our weekend edition of the World News podcast for more on that. And our latest City Memo takes us to Toronto. Just keep your elbows down.
The latest: Vladimir Putin said he will spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in the Russian region if they surrender, a response to Trump’s appeal to avoid a “horrible massacre.” Trump called discussions between Putin and his U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff productive. Putin said the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire needs serious reworking, while Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he thinks the chances of ending the war are good. What does Russia have against Keith Kellogg?
Into Africa? Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland said they received no proposal from the U.S. or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza. The Associated Press earlier reported U.S. and Israeli officials had discussed the plan with officials there and in Sudan. Israel dismissed Hamas’ proposal to free an American-Israeli hostage in exchange for beginning the next round of ceasefire talks, calling it psychological warfare.
Higher learning: The Justice Department is investigating whether student protests at Columbia University violated federal terrorism laws. The administration told Columbia it must make policy changes to restore more than $400 million in federal funding, including placing its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies departments in programs that would take their control out of the hands of their faculties. The administration’s policy of deporting some foreign nationals who participate in pro-Palestinian protests is unconstitutional, lawyers for a detained Columbia student said.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was abducted before being taken to the Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity and is too ill to give evidence, his lawyer said.
Donald Trump threatened Denmark with sanctions unless it gives Greenland to the United States. Now the U.S. is asking the same country and others for eggs as bird flu cuts supplies. What would you do if you were running Denmark? Let me know.
An American woman left Australia after she uploaded a video showing her grabbing a wombat and walking away with it while the animal’s distressed mother ran after it. Australia’s prime minister suggested she try the same thing with a baby crocodile.
Looks like it’ll be Disney World for me this summer after all. Rio de Janeiro police demolished a facility they called a “drug trafficking resort” in a favela. It featured an artificial lake, swimming pool, gym, barbecue area and leisure space.
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