“Not our business,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on a video showing France’s first lady shoving her husband on a plane

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was reluctant to comment on French President Emmanuel Macron being pushed in the face by his spouse Brigitte, saying it was unacceptable to talk about such family issues. However, he went on to point out that a wife always has a reason to slap her husband.

The footage of the incident was captured as the French first couple arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 25. The video shows the aircraft door opening to reveal Macron speaking to someone off-camera. Moments later, two arms in red sleeves reach out and push his face, covering his mouth and jaw. Macron steps back, smiles, and waves after noticing the cameras. Brigitte soon appears beside him, wearing a red jacket.

The video later went viral, prompting the president to downplay the incident, describing it as the two of them just “bickering and joking.”

“You know, I am convinced that it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the Macron family’s private matters,” Peskov said. “On the other hand, if a wife slaps her husband, she never does it without a reason, but still, it’s not our business.”

Shifting away from celebrity gossip, the spokesman emphasized that Paris isn’t working towards peace, and opting to increase pressure on Moscow instead.

“France still believes that something can be achieved with Russia through pressure — this reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of our country,” Peskov said, adding that the fact that the French leader “does not understand the reality of the situation” is regrettable.

France has provided over €3.8 billion ($4.2 billion) in military aid to Kiev since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, according to the Kiel Institute.

Authorities in Paris have advocated deploying French troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow, arguing that it could help deter Russia. In March, Macron announced a French-British plan to prepare such a “reassurance force” in the event of a ceasefire. The announcement sparked protests in Paris against what demonstrators called NATO’s militaristic stance.

Russia has repeatedly warned it won’t accept the presence of any NATO country’s troops in Ukraine, and pointed out that the military bloc’s expansion in Europe had been a primary reason for the conflict.

The US tech firm scaled down operations in the country in 2022 but has recently registered its trademark 

One of Microsoft’s Russian subsidiaries has announced plans to file for bankruptcy, according to a note published on the official Fedresurs registry on Friday. The US-based tech giant opted to exit the country shortly after the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

In March 2022, the corporation stopped selling its products and services in Russia, pausing other aspects of its business in the country to comply with sanctions introduced by the West against Moscow amid the Ukraine conflict.

Since then, a wide range of Russian corporate giants - including Severstal, Uralkali, VTB, MegaFon, Gazprombank, and others - have filed lawsuits against the company’s local subsidiary, Microsoft Rus. The total value of the suits related to breach of contractual obligations after the exit amounts to 341 million rubles (nearly $3.6 million), according to the Russian business daily RBK.

Shortly after pulling the plug on operations in Russia, the company stopped renewing Microsoft 365 subscriptions—including Outlook, Teams, Office, OneDrive, and SharePoint services—for its corporate clients, disconnected a number of Russian organizations from cloud services such as Visio Online, Project Online, and Power BI, and introduced other restrictions.

According to data tracked by RBK, the revenue of Microsoft’s Russian subsidiary last year amounted to 161.6 million rubles (nearly $2 million), with net profit totaling 174.1 million rubles ($2.13 million). The data shows the company reported revenue of 6.9 billion rubles ($84.5 million) and a profit of 638.1 million rubles ($7.8 million) in 2021, which marked its last full year of operations in Russia before deciding to quit.

Earlier this year, the multinational registered the trademark ‘Microsoft Places’ with the Russian patent office, Rospatent. According to the filing card, the company plans to provide or grant temporary access to “downloadable computer software for managing hybrid planning, workplace management, office space management,” and other types of software until 2023.

In recent months, foreign corporations—including McDonald’s, Hyundai, Intel, LG, IKEA, Chanel, Rolex, and Louis Vuitton—that had previously exited Russia have begun registering new trademarks in the country, signaling their potential return.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the creation of a program for foreign corporations willing to return to the Russian market, “but only insofar as it aligns with the protection of our own business interests.” Speaking with business leaders in the Kremlin, the president emphasized that Moscow won’t be “rolling out a red carpet” for McDonald’s and other companies.

The number of Austrians who can barely read has increased by almost 12% in just over a decade, according to government data

Almost a third of the population in Austria has poor reading skills, signaling an alarming trend, the EU country’s government statistics office has said.

The decline is particularly noticeable among those with jobs that require medium or low qualifications, Statistics Austria said in a statement earlier this week.

In Austria, which has a population of nine million, a total of 29.0% or around 2.6 million people have a low level of literacy, according to data on the agency’s website.

The number of those who have problems with reading increased by 11.9% between 2012 and 2023, the figures show.

The average literacy level among Austrians aged 16 to 65 stands at 254 points, which is significantly below the average of 260 points set by the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).

People from 16 to 24 performed above the OECD average, while older people appear to have significantly lower reading skills than the expected level, the agency said.

“The differences in reading skills among adults are large, and this gap has continued to widen,” Tobias Thomas, Director General of Statistics Austria, was cited as saying.

There has been “a particularly strong decline” in the consumption of complex reading materials such as newspapers and magazines, with the Austrians mainly reading emails and other shorter texts, the agency noted.

According to Statistics Austria, the number of those with low day-to-day math skills also grew by 6.7% between 2012 and 2023, amounting to 22.6% of the population.

Russia’s state-owned pollster VTSIOM said last year that “reading remains a popular means of obtaining knowledge and information among the Russians” despite what it called “serious competition” from visual media.

In the poll carried out in November 2024, some 87% of respondents said that they had read something over the previous week. Fiction topped the chart of the most popular reading materials (40%) in Russia, leaving news and social media posts in second place (37%), according to VTSIOM’s figures.

Kiev will skip the payment of over $600 million it owes to holders of $2.6 billion in debt, its Finance Ministry has said

Ukraine will not pay $665 million it owes to international creditors, the country’s Finance Ministry said in a statement on Friday. Kiev earlier failed to agree on restructuring terms with a group of debt holders led by hedge funds.

The payment concerns GDP-linked securities — debt tied to economic growth — totaling $2.6 billion, with $665 million due on June 2.

Ukraine was originally scheduled to make the payment a year ago, but a moratorium on bond settlements, approved by authorities in Kiev, allowed the cash-strapped country to avoid default. That moratorium will remain in place until the debt is restructured, the ministry said.

The Finance Ministry noted that under a 2024 agreement with international creditors, the so-called cross-default clause was removed.

That clause had stipulated that failure to pay on GDP warrants could trigger a default on other debt, including international bonds. With the clause removed, Ukraine is not required to declare a default on its international bonds, the ministry emphasized.

In April, Ukrainian authorities said they had failed to reach a deal to restructure part of the country’s debt, with a nominal value of $3.2 billion.

According to Bloomberg, Ukraine offered investors two options during the unsuccessful talks, including a full exchange for sovereign bonds by reopening existing notes. However, creditors reportedly agreed only to restructure the May payment and demanded over $400 million in cash, as well as the conversion of more than $200 million into new bonds – a condition Kiev rejected.

Nikolay Azarov led his country’s government until the Western-backed 2014 Euromaidan coup

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has been elected an academician by the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), the country’s leading scientific organization has announced.

Azarov, who is a Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences and a professor at Donetsk National Technical University, was Ukraine’s head of government between 2010 and 2014. He resigned during the Western-backed Euromaidan protests in Kiev and fled to Russia after the overthrow of democratically-elected President Viktor Yanukovich in February 2014.

The former prime minister became an academician alongside 84 other scientists, including 39 from foreign countries, the Russian Academy of Sciences said in a statement on Friday. During the vote the previous day, his candidacy was supported by 521 members of RAS, it added.

Azarov became an academician in the Department of Earth Sciences; his specialty is the mining sciences, the statement read.

According to RAS, Azarov, who has written more than a hundred scientific papers, made a significant contribution to the theory of the rational industry-related transformation of Earth’s depth during the development of solid mineral deposits.

Through his scientific work, the 77-year-old also facilitated the development of efficient and safe technologies for the extraction of ore, diamonds, coal and gas deposits, it added.

Azarov, who is a critic of Vladimir Zelensky and the current Ukrainian authorities, has been accused of treason by Kiev. A warrant was issued for his arrest in 2021; he stands accused of working in the interests of Moscow during the 2010 negotiations of a deal to prolong the stay of the Russian fleet in Crimea by another 25 years in exchange for discounts on gas supplies. The former prime minister has denied any wrongdoing, saying that the case against him was fabricated.

The country’s leader has said delays in historical prosecutions have caused anguish for the families of victims

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Inquiry into prosecutorial and investigation delays into apartheid era crimes.

Khampepe will be assisted by retired Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Adv Andrea Gabriel SC.

The commission will cover the period from 2003 to the present.

Ramaphosa has signed a proclamation for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

In a statement by the presidency, the establishment of the commission of inquiry is part of an agreement reached in settlement discussions in a court application brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes.

Ramaphosa said: “For many years, there have been allegations of interference in these cases. This alleged interference is seen as the cause of an unacceptable delay in the investigation and prosecution of brutal crimes committed under apartheid. This has caused the families of victims great anguish and frustration. 

“All affected families – and indeed all South Africans – deserve closure and justice. A commission of inquiry with broad and comprehensive terms of reference is an opportunity to establish the truth and provide guidance on any further action that needs to be taken.”

Ramaphosa said the commission will inquire into, make findings, report on and make recommendations on: Were there any efforts to stop SAPS or the NPA from investigating TRC cases? Who made these efforts, and why? Did any SAPS or NPA members improperly cooperate with those trying to influence or pressure them? Should the state take action—like more investigations or prosecutions—against anyone who broke the law? Should any person receive constitutional damages, and if so, how much?

Victims and their families with a vested interest in TRC cases, including those involved in the current legal proceedings, are among the key stakeholders.

The Commission of Inquiry, established by agreement between the families and the government, has six months to complete its work and must submit its report within 60 days thereafter.

While both sides agreed to the commission’s formation, unresolved issues remain—the government sees them as commission matters, while families seek court adjudication.

As the commission began its work, the government welcomed the NPA and SAPS’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting unresolved TRC cases, with dedicated resources already in place for priority matters.

Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of holding those who committed apartheid-era crimes without amnesty accountable and expressed hope that the inquiry would help uncover the truth and bring closure to a painful chapter in the nation’s history.

First published by IOL

A rare visitor has surprised residents in the streets of Gordon’s Bay in South Africa

A southern elephant seal has been safely returned to the ocean after wandering through the streets of Gordon’s Bay, a coastal town near Cape Town, South Africa. The seal’s appearance had prompted a large-scale rescue operation.

The young male, estimated to weigh around two tons (4,400 pounds), was first spotted early Tuesday navigating the suburb’s streets. Startled residents emerged from their homes to witness the unexpected visitor, capturing videos of the marine mammal lumbering along sidewalks.

In one widely shared clip, police officers can be seen surrounding the visitor with their vehicles, attempting to prevent the animal from moving further. However, the seal showed no fear of the cars and calmly rested its head on the hood of a vehicle. After a while, it resumed its journey, making its way onto the sidewalk.

Wow, I didn't have a huge seal in Gordons Bay, Cape Town in South Africa on my list of things to post today....🦭pic.twitter.com/etkUKcVnk9

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) May 27, 2025

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA confirmed that the animal was eventually secured near a shopping center, at which point experts concluded it was unlikely to find its own way back to sea. A team of wildlife and emergency personnel was quickly dispatched to the scene.

The organization also released a video showing the seal’s return to the sea.

The SPCA later confirmed in a Facebook post that the seal had hauled out once again, this time at the Naval Base in Simon’s Town. “He’s currently safe and secure in a location where he cannot access any roads, and there’s no immediate risk to his well-being,” the organization said. 

Southern elephant seals are the largest seal species in the world and are typically found in sub-Antarctic waters. While sightings in South Africa are rare, experts note that young males occasionally stray from their usual habitats and appear along the country’s coastline.

“Wild animals don’t always follow the script, and this seal’s unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern,” Belinda Abraham, a spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, stated.

The organization also urged residents to avoid approaching, feeding, or attempting to assist wildlife spotted in urban areas, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe distance.

Bloggers have accused romance writer Sophie Lark of “pro-Russian” views

A Ukrainian publishing house has destroyed books by American romance writer Sophie Lark, who was accused of praising Russia and disparaging Ukrainians.

The Kharkov-based publisher KSD canceled the release of the Ukrainian translation of Lark’s novel Brutal Prince following an outcry on social media.

Ukrainian bloggers took issue with her 2024 “romantic thriller” Monarch, whose main character is named Elena Zelenska – which strongly resembles the real-life wife of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, Elena Zelenskaya.

In the novel, Zelenska is described as “the world’s most unlikely mail-order bride,” according to the book’s description on Amazon.

Other users claimed the author was “romanticizing the Russian mafia” in her other books and depicting Crimea as Russian territory. Some labeled Lark “a fan of Russia,” accused her of promoting “pro-Russian” narratives, and claimed she called for “the murder of Cossacks” in her novel Anastasia, which centers on the Romanov dynasty.

In a statement issued on Friday, KSD admitted that the decision to publish Lark’s book “was a mistake.”

“After thoroughly examining the situation and not receiving a response from the author, we have decided to destroy all 30,000 copies of the book and cancel the contract for the entire six-book series,” the publisher said on Facebook. “It is important for us to remain responsible not only in our publishing decisions, but also in our moral principles.”

Ukraine has banned multiple books, films, and songs under its laws prohibiting “the propaganda of Russian imperial policies.” It has also removed monuments and renamed streets as part of its “de-Communization” and “decolonization” campaigns.

The government recently announced plans to remove Russian writers, poets, and composers from the school curriculum.

In March, US publisher Bloom Books pulled Lark’s novel Sparrow and Vine after some readers described parts of the dialogue as racist and criticized lines in which characters praised tech billionaire Elon Musk. Lark apologized at the time, saying she had intended to write “flawed” characters.

US President Donald Trump’s adviser has reportedly been consuming copious amounts of ketamine and other substances

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a major ally of US President Donald Trump, has been consuming an alarming amount of drugs, the New York Times alleged on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The report came out shortly after Musk announced that he would step down from his leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at cutting wasteful US federal spending.

Although the CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X had admitted in the past to taking ketamine prescribed for depression about every two weeks, the NYT wrote that he has “developed a far more serious habit,” as his drug consumption “went well beyond occasional use.”

The Times cited its sources as saying that Musk had been using ketamine “often, sometimes daily,” and mixing it with other drugs, as well as taking ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.

The businessman reportedly travels with a daily medication box that contains about 20 pills, including ones marked as Adderall, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He has also been warned in advance about random drug tests of SpaceX employees, the Times said.

In 2018, the Times reported that some board members at Tesla were worried about his use of the sleep drug Ambien. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that senior executives at SpaceX and Tesla were also concerned about Musk’s consumption of drugs, including LSD and cocaine.

Musk dodged a reporter’s question about his alleged drug use at a press conference with Trump at the Oval Office on Friday, dismissing the Times as “the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on Russiagate.”

He said in 2024 that “not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol” in his system over the three years of tests at SpaceX.

Musk said that his departure is “not the end of DOGE,” whose team will grow over time. “I will continue to be visiting here and be a friend and adviser to the president,” Musk said at the White House.

At least 14 civilians have been injured in the attacks, according to a top regional official

Ukrainian kamikaze drones struck residential areas in Kursk Region overnight and during the day on Saturday, injuring 14 people, including four children, according to Acting Governor Aleksandr Khinshteyn.

In the town of Rylsk, UAVs hit two five-story apartment blocks, injuring seven people. The victims include a family with two children, Khinshteyn said, adding that some residents were hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.

In the village of Artakovo, drones damaged two buildings and a garage. A family of three, who were at home during the attack, were also hospitalized, according to the governor.

In a later statement, the governor said that two more kids were wounded in a UAV strike in the region’s Lgov District. They have been hospitalized in moderate condition and are currently being treated.

A drone also hit an agricultural enterprise in Rylsk District, lightly injuring two people and causing a major blaze, according to Khinshteyn.

In the afternoon, the village of Begoscha came under attack, with a UAV setting a private home on fire. The resident, a 97-year-old woman, avoided injuries and was evacuated, he wrote.

“Dear residents, the enemy continues its vile attacks on our territory. I ask you to remain vigilant. Take care of yourselves,” the governor urged.

Ukraine has stepped up attacks deep inside Russia since the two sides held their first direct talks in three years on May 16 in Istanbul. Moscow has proposed holding a second round of negotiations on June 2, but Kiev has yet to formally commit.

During a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday, Russia’s envoy Vassily Nebenzia accused Ukraine of engaging in “manipulations” aimed at deceiving the US, which is attempting to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.

Nebenzia rejected claims that Russian troops are deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine, stating that Moscow is only carrying out strikes on military targets.

Dmitry Polyansky told RT that Kiev isn’t interested in resolving the conflict with Moscow

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky doesn’t want meaningful negotiations and only seeks to prolong the conflict, Russian first deputy envoy to the UN Dmitry Polyansky has told RT.

Russia proposed holding a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on June 2, but Ukraine has yet to formally commit to attending the event.

“They are making every effort to convince [US President Donald Trump] that Russia isn’t interested in peace,” Polyansky said in an interview on Friday. “It is absolutely clear that Ukraine isn’t interested in negotiations. They’re simply playing games. For them, it’s not a serious or meaningful negotiation.”

“Everything Kiev now does and says should be analyzed through [the lens] of Ukraine wanting to prolong the war,” the diplomat added. He suggested that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is motivated by a desire to stay in power and avoid accountability. Zelensky’s five-year presidential term formally expired in May 2024, but he has refused to call new elections, citing martial law.

“It is not in the interest of the Ukrainian president to engage in any meaningful peaceful efforts because they would lead to elections – something he fears the most,” Polyansky said. “He would also be held accountable for the embezzlement of the state budget and Western aid… That’s why he wants to avert this scenario any way he can.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he no longer considers Zelensky a legitimate leader and argued that his status could potentially undermine the peace process. Trump previously branded Zelensky “a dictator without elections,” but has since toned down his criticism.

Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in three years in Istanbul on May 16, agreeing to carry out a large prisoner exchange and each present ceasefire terms. The Kremlin has denied accusations of stalling negotiations and said on Wednesday that it was finalizing a memorandum outlining its vision of peace.

“Make sure the door remains closed,” the US president has quipped over a video showing France’s First Lady shoving her husband on a plane

US President Donald Trump has said Emmanuel Macron is “fine” following an incident in which his wife Brigitte appeared to slap her husband aboard their plane.

The footage, which quickly went viral, was filmed as the French first couple arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 25 to begin a Southeast Asia tour. As the aircraft door opened, Macron was seen speaking to someone off-camera. Two arms in red sleeves then reached out and pushed his face, covering his mouth and jaw. He stepped back, smiled, and waved after noticing the cameras. Brigitte, wearing a red jacket, soon appeared beside him. Macron offered his arm, which she declined, and the two walked down the stairs together.

Asked on Friday if he had any marital advice for Macron, Trump quipped, “Make sure the door remains closed.” 

He added, “That was not good,” and said he had spoken to Macron after the incident. “He’s fine, they’re fine,” Trump said.

“They’re two really good people I know very well,” he added. “I don’t know what that was all about.”

Macron has downplayed the incident, telling reporters the moment was simply the two of them “having fun.”

He also addressed two other recent viral clips. “A lot of lunatics are spending their days interpreting all these videos,” he said.

One clip, filmed on a train to Ukraine, showed Macron with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The French president briefly hid a small object, prompting online rumors of drug use, which the Elysee palace called baseless.

Another, from the European Political Community summit in Albania two weeks ago, showed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gripping Macron’s finger while seated, a gesture some interpreted as a power play.

Macron confirmed all three videos were genuine but dismissed the narratives around them.

He and Brigitte have been married since 2007. The couple met when he was a student and she was a teacher at his high school in Amiens. She is 24 years older than her husband.

The Ukrainian leader, whose presidential term expired last year, is trying to legitimize himself, the ex-Russian president has claimed

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky suggested holding a three-way meeting with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to gain some legitimacy as a leader, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed.

Zelensky, whose presidential term expired more than a year ago, has repeatedly cited martial law as a pretext for refusing to hold a new election. The Kremlin argues that he is now “illegitimate” as a leader.

In a post on his Telegram channel on Friday, Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, wrote that the reason why Zelensky wants a meeting with both Trump and Putin at the same time is “obvious enough.”

“A three-way conversation means [he] can get a massive legitimacy boost by latching onto the clout of those at the table,” the Russian official claimed. Medvedev also surmised that Zelensky could capitalize on such a meeting domestically, using it as a pretext to put off elections further and to convince Ukrainian elites that “now is not the time to change horses in midstream.”

On Tuesday, Zelensky stated that “we are ready for the ‘Trump, Putin, and me’ format, and we are ready for the Trump-Putin, Trump-Zelensky format, and then the three of us.”

According to Zelensky, while several venues for the potential summit were being considered, Türkiye was the “most realistic option.”

The following day, Trump said he was prepared for a trilateral meeting with Zelensky and Putin “if it’s necessary.”

Speaking during his visit to Kiev on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that he believes “it is possible to cap the first and second direct Istanbul talks with a meeting between Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin, and Mr. Zelensky, under the direction of [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan.”

Also on Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin is open to holding high-level direct talks with Kiev. However, he said these should be preceded by concrete progress being made in the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

The representatives of Moscow and Kiev last met in Istanbul on May 16, marking their first formal negotiations since 2022.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed holding the next round of direct discussions on June 2, also in Istanbul.

Washington and Beijing agreed earlier this month to roll back triple-digit tariffs

US President Donald Trump has accused China of breaching a tariff agreement reached earlier this month, reigniting tensions in a fragile trade truce between the world’s two largest economies.

Under the deal announced on May 12 after breakthrough negotiations in Geneva, the US and China agreed to suspend most new duties imposed since early April, pending further talks.

On Friday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, writing: “China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US.” He gave no specifics but said China had been in “grave economic danger” as a result of the tariffs, before Washington stepped in with what he called a “FAST DEAL.”

“I saw what was happening and didn’t like it, for them, not for us,” Trump wrote, adding “So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

Multiple outlets reported this week that the Trump administration has ordered US companies to halt shipments of high-end goods to China, including chip design software and specialty chemicals. Experts warned the decision would be likely to further escalate tensions with Beijing.

The May 12 agreement had paused the 34% tariff hikes introduced on April 2 for 90 days, with Beijing taking reciprocal action. Both sides also committed to rolling back tariff increases introduced since April 8, while keeping a baseline 10% duty on mutual imports.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Friday that China had not removed certain non-tariff barriers as agreed under the deal. “They removed the tariff like we did but some of the countermeasures they’ve slowed on,” he said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed that concern, telling Fox News the negotiations were “a bit stalled” and may now require direct involvement from Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said he expected talks to resume in the coming weeks.

China on Friday urged Washington to “immediately correct its erroneous actions, cease discriminatory restrictions against China and jointly uphold the consensus reached at the high-level talks in Geneva.”

As part of that consensus, Beijing had also agreed to ease non-tariff measures such as export controls on US goods. The changes were due to take effect on May 14, alongside the creation of a bilateral consultation mechanism for future trade steps.

Tensions spiked on April 2, when Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on more than 90 countries, including China, citing trade imbalances. Beijing retaliated, triggering a tit-for-tat standoff that saw final US duties climb to 145% and Chinese tariffs to 125%. The dispute rattled global markets, driving volatility across equities and commodities.

The hockey icon plans to move to Moscow after his contract with the Washington Capitals ends, according to his spouse

NHL star Alexander Ovechkin is reportedly planning to return to Russia in 2026 after completing the final season of his contract with the Washington Capitals. His wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, has told Russian media that the family will move back to Moscow following the 2025–26 NHL season.

”Ovechkin still has a year left on his contract. So, we will play next season and then fly back to Moscow, to our homeland,” Shubskaya said in an interview with Argumenty i Fakty. “We will stay in Russia,” she added.

It follows reports that the upcoming season would be Ovechkin’s last in North America. Earlier in May, some Capitals season ticket holders received an email suggesting 2025–26 would mark the end of the Russian forward’s career with the franchise. However, the team later stated that the message was sent in error by a corporate sales employee, and no official retirement decision had been made.

Despite that, several statements from Ovechkin’s wife have indicated the couple intends to settle in Russia permanently after his NHL career ends.

Ovechkin, 39, recently became the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history. On April 6, 2025, he scored his 895th regular-season goal in a game against the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894. Ovechkin has since added two more goals, bringing his tally to 897. He is now aiming for a personal milestone of 900 regular-season goals – an achievement reportedly encouraged by Gretzky himself.

Following his historic achievement, Ovechkin received congratulations from both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Putin called it “a true celebration for fans in Russia and beyond,” while Trump hailed the Russian star as “great.”

Ovechkin has yet to publicly confirm his retirement or post-NHL plans. However, in an interview in March 2024 with Russian media, he acknowledged he was considering leaving Washington and even mentioned a possible return to Moscow’s Dynamo, where his professional career began.

French “neo-fascists” are fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman

French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements in support of the Ukraine peace process are not credible, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. 

In a Telegram post on Friday, Zakharova cited a recent France Info article about a Ukrainian intelligence unit known as the ‘International Revenge’ tactical group, where foreign fighters, including French nationals, are training for frontline operations.

French citizens “were taken aback by a blunt publication” that the country’s soldiers are already “serving the Kiev regime,” Zakharova wrote.

According to the report, the unit includes both civilians and military personnel from France. Some told the outlet they had already been deployed to the front.

Zakharova pointed to what she described as the unit’s neo-Nazi ideology, saying that its name was no coincidence.

“The group’s symbols bear all the hallmarks of neo-Nazi revanchism,” she wrote, citing skull insignias, dark imagery, and the Latin slogan ‘Memento Audere Semper’ (‘Remember to dare always’). The motto is known to have been used by Italian fascist and Mussolini ally Gabriele D’Annunzio in reference to the MAS, or ‘Motoscafo Armato Silurante’ – a class of fast torpedo boats used by the Italian Royal Navy in both World Wars.

“These French revanchist neo-fascists are not even hiding,” Zakharova added. “They openly talk about coming from France to fight Russians “without sparing bullets” and say they hope to one day face Russia in battle.”

Zakharova said the revelations cast doubt on Macron’s talk of commitment to the peace process.

France has provided more than €3.7 billion ($4.1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, according to the Kiel Institute.

Macron has advocated deploying French troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow, arguing that it could help deter Russia. In March, he announced a French-British plan to prepare such a “reassurance force” in the event of a ceasefire. The announcement sparked protests in Paris against what demonstrators called NATO’s militaristic stance.

Moscow has repeatedly warned it will not accept any NATO presence in Ukraine, citing the military bloc’s expansion in Europe as a core reason for the conflict.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16 for their first formal talks since 2022. The meeting led to the largest prisoner exchange to date and an agreement to draft written proposals ahead of the next round of talks, which Russia proposed for June 2.

The suspect was allegedly ordered by his handler to set off a bomb in a public place, the Russian authorities have said

A Ukrainian terrorist plot has been thwarted in Moscow, Russia’s investigative committee has claimed.

In a statement on Friday, officials announced that they had discovered plans for a terrorist attack while searching the home of a man already under investigation for “publicly justifying terrorism.” According to the investigative committee, the authorities seized the suspect’s mobile phone during a search, which contained a conversation with “a handler from the Ukrainian special services.” The latter had allegedly instructed the suspect to retrieve an explosive device from a cache in a wooded area in the west of Moscow.

”Investigators from the [Moscow] investigative committee, together with law enforcement operatives, immediately inspected the specified location in the park, where an improvised explosive device was uncovered and retrieved,” the statement claims.

According to officials, the suspect, who has been charged with preparing a terrorist attack and been remanded in custody, intended to detonate the bomb in a busy public place.

During a phone conversation with his US counterpart last Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed Donald Trump of several foiled terrorist attacks in Moscow ahead of Victory Day celebrations earlier this month. The Russian leader pointed the finger at Ukraine, accusing Kiev of attempting to intimidate foreign dignitaries ahead of the event, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

In early May, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky publicly stated that his country could not guarantee the safety of foreign attendees visiting the Russian capital on May 9.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry described the remark as tantamount to a terrorist threat. Its spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, accused Ukrainian authorities of displaying “classic terrorist behavior.”

Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, Kiev has on multiple occasions targeted Russian cities, including Moscow, with explosive-laden drones and used concealed bombs in several assassinations in the Russian capital and elsewhere across the country.

Why has the US president decided to lift all sanctions on Damascus, and how will it shape the future of the region?

US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that he intends to lift all sanctions on Syria stands as one of the most unexpected and controversial foreign policy moves Washington has made in the past decade.

Declared during Trump’s Middle East tour at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, the decision marks a dramatic shift in America’s approach to the region – one that could reshape the strategic landscape for both allies and adversaries.

The sanctions on Syria, first imposed in 1979, were progressively tightened over decades in response to accusations of sponsoring terrorism, human rights abuses, and close ties with Iran. Their full repeal is an unprecedented gesture, especially considering that Syria’s current president, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, was until recently regarded by the US as a senior figure in Al-Qaeda – with a $10 million bounty once placed on his capture.

In return, Damascus has made a series of strategic commitments. According to Trump, al-Sharaa has pledged to prevent the resurgence of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), bring all jihadist detention camps under state control, and expel all foreign terrorist formations from Syrian soil. This latter promise is particularly significant, as these militant units – many of them composed of fighters from Central Asia – played a pivotal role in the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime and the rise of the current leadership.

Many of these same groups are also responsible for large-scale ethnic purges, including the massacres of Alawites and other religious minorities earlier this year. Thus, Trump’s proposal does more than legitimize al-Sharaa’s regime – it places on it the mantle of a regional stabilizer, albeit one whose legitimacy remains heavily disputed.

The decision to lift sanctions cannot be divorced from Washington’s broader economic and strategic interests. That the announcement came in Saudi Arabia is no coincidence – it signals a broader understanding with Riyadh, which is eager to deepen its footprint in post-conflict Syria. From the US perspective, the Syria deal is a building block in a new Middle Eastern architecture – one dominated by pro-Western governments and designed to neutralize Iranian influence.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have long viewed Syria’s reconstruction as an opportunity to entrench themselves politically and economically. US sanctions had previously prevented them from acting overtly, and the lifting of restrictions may now be part of a grander bargain: Riyadh receives a green light to invest in Syria, while Washington secures massive financial commitments. On May 14 – the day of Trump’s announcement – Saudi Arabia signed a $142 billion arms deal with the US and pledged an additional $600 billion in American investments.

At first glance, Trump’s move might appear as a betrayal of Israeli interests – an accusation made in several media commentaries. Yet in practice, Israel gains a neighbor that, while unpredictable, is now positioned to suppress Islamist radicals within its borders. This allows it to refocus on countering Iran and Hezbollah without the added distraction of threats emanating from Syria.

The lifting of sanctions also aligns with Türkiye’s strategic goals. President Erdogan, just prior to the Trump-al-Sharaa meeting, personally urged the US president to dismantle the sanctions. Türkiye is a key partner of Syria’s new leadership but has been constrained by its own economic crisis. Moreover, the sanctions hindered Ankara’s allies – particularly Qatar – from taking part in Syria’s postwar reconstruction.

In sum, Trump’s Syrian deal represents more than just a diplomatic maneuver; it is a bold attempt to reengineer the regional balance of power. Whether it brings long-term stability or fuels new fault lines remains to be seen – but its impact on the Middle East is already unmistakable.

What lies behind this move?

The developments unfolding in Syria following the rise to power of Ahmed al-Sharaa increasingly evoke the atmosphere of 2011 – the era of the Arab Spring, when the Middle East fractured into two ideological and geopolitical camps. At the time, Türkiye and Qatar actively championed the cause of ‘political Islam’, seeking to expand their influence through the emergence of Islamist-oriented governments. In contrast, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates perceived Islamist forces as a direct threat to regional stability and the survival of their monarchical order.

Today, under al-Sharaa’s leadership, Syria once again reflects that same fault line. A sense of déjà vu looms: The region’s main players find themselves navigating renewed tensions, caught between the desire to preserve influence and the necessity of adapting to a rapidly evolving reality.

Ankara and Doha, both instrumental in al-Sharaa’s ascent, view his leadership as an opportunity to reclaim their diminished standing in the Levant. Despite its internal economic turmoil, Türkiye continues to position itself as a regional arbiter, relying on a network of loyal political and military actors within Syria. Qatar, for its part, is providing financial and diplomatic support, effectively replicating the strategy it previously deployed in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia.

Yet the current landscape differs markedly from that of 2011. Al-Sharaa, though buoyed by Turkish support, has signaled a desire for greater autonomy from the outset. His first official foreign visit was not to Ankara, but to Riyadh – a symbolic gesture toward Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose economic power is now essential for Syria’s reconstruction. It was also a clear signal that Damascus is open to dialogue, even with those who once backed the opposing side in the civil war.

For Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the resurgence of politically motivated Islamist forces is a source of deep concern, though their response has remained deliberately muted. Rather than overt confrontation, these Gulf monarchies have opted for economic engagement, believing that financial leverage will grant them influence while curbing radicalization.

They also see the new Syrian leadership as a potential partner in shaping a new Middle Eastern order – provided that Damascus does not become an instrument of Turkish expansionism. This explains al-Sharaa’s active display of ‘independent maneuvering’, as he skillfully balances between centers of power – from the Gulf to Ankara, from Washington to Moscow.

Amid this geopolitical mosaic, the US has crafted a new strategic vision. Under Trump’s leadership, US policy increasingly focuses on economic leverage and security cooperation while moving away from direct military engagement in the Middle East. Trump proposes a new model: ‘Regional self-sufficiency’ under an American umbrella.

The essence of this model is to arm and equip regional actors, enabling them to maintain stability independently, with the US acting as a supplier of advanced technology and a guarantor of balance. In return, Washington demands loyalty, political restraint, and – crucially – substantial financial contributions. This underpins the strategic alignment with Gulf monarchies, who possess the means and motivation to counterbalance Iran.

At the same time, Trump is attempting to bridge the divide between Türkiye and Israel, laying the groundwork for an economic partnership despite ideological differences. The goal is to prevent friction among US allies and to forge a unified front against Iran and other hostile forces.

Syria, in this context, becomes a testing ground for America’s new security architecture – a controlled regional equilibrium maintained without the Pentagon’s direct footprint. If successful, this model could be replicated in other crisis zones.

A potential next step is the normalization of relations between Syria and Israel – a previously unimaginable prospect, now discussed as part of a broader settlement. In parallel, Trump plans to introduce a new Middle East peace framework that includes recognition of Palestine in exchange for diplomatic and economic incentives from Arab states. This scenario may also presage political change in Israel: If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resists the plan, centrist alternatives like Yair Lapid or Benny Gantz – more amenable to compromise – could come to the fore.

All of this unfolds against the backdrop of a fundamental reordering of US global priorities. Washington is increasingly pivoting toward the containment of China, its primary strategic rival in the 21st century. The Middle East is no longer seen as a vital sphere; the new approach favors balance over expansion, mediation over presence, partnership over intervention.

Thus, US regional strategy is evolving from rigid control to a more adaptive configuration – one in which local actors are granted greater autonomy, though still within an overarching framework engineered in Washington. Syria may well serve as the first case study of this new era – an era in which the return to the logic of 2011 unexpectedly becomes the launchpad for a very different Middle East.

Will things get better in Syria?

The US decision to lift sanctions on Syria following the rise of al-Sharaa to power marks a pivotal moment for a country that has endured over a decade of devastating war, international isolation, and socioeconomic collapse.

This move not only removes one of the most significant external constraints on the Syrian leadership, but also opens a window of opportunity to construct a new model of governance – one grounded in pragmatism, economic rationality, and cautious multilateralism.

Al-Sharaa now faces a critical choice: To use this opportunity to consolidate centralized authority and restore effective governance – or, through missteps or weakness, to allow Syria to fragment further into a collection of ethno-regional entities devoid of a unifying national project.

The World Bank has cleared over $15 million of Syrian debt, once again making the country eligible for participation in international financing programs. This development was made possible through targeted financial contributions from the Gulf states – particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar – signaling their intention to take the lead in Syria’s reconstruction. Following this, the IMF expressed its readiness to provide technical assistance, while the Syrian authorities issued a series of statements inviting investment in agriculture, energy, transportation infrastructure, and tourism.

These actions indicate the new regime’s ambition to craft an economic model that not only addresses the war’s legacy but also generates employment, stabilizes the currency, boosts public revenues, and – most importantly – restores public trust in the institution of the state.

However, economic recovery is only feasible if accompanied by the genuine restoration of governance.

Syria remains deeply fragmented. Kurdish regions in the northeast are governed by a de facto autonomous administration with its own armed forces and international channels. In the south, the Druze community in Suwayda exhibits growing political and organizational independence, alongside protest movements and local defense initiatives. Along the coastal regions – home to significant Alawite and Christian minorities – distrust toward centralized power continues to grow, especially amid persistent ethno-sectarian tensions. These communities, should the center weaken, may gravitate toward political separatism or at least self-organization into autonomous administrative structures.

If the al-Sharaa government fails to propose a coherent model of political integration – one that includes power-sharing, resource distribution, and the participation of regional elites in governance – Syria could enter a new phase of ‘soft disintegration’: A de facto federalization where unity is maintained in name only.

In this context, foreign policy becomes critically important. Fully aware of the dangers of unilateral alignment, Ahmed al-Sharaa is pursuing a balanced external strategy. Unlike the previous era, which was defined by dependence on a narrow circle of allies, Syria’s new president is embracing a diversified diplomatic approach. He seeks to build relations with the West and the US – especially in the context of economic recovery and Syria’s international rehabilitation – without abandoning existing strategic ties. It is within this framework that Russia remains a key partner to Syria across several strategic domains.

Russia continues to play a central role in Syria’s security architecture and diplomatic positioning, including defending Syrian interests at the UN Security Council and engaging in technical, military, and energy cooperation.

Its presence in Tartus and Khmeimim, involvement in humanitarian initiatives, and potential contributions to infrastructure reconstruction ensure its continued relevance in any long-term settlement scenario.

At the same time, Damascus under al-Sharaa is also looking to build stronger ties with other non-Western power centers – including China, India, and Brazil – while deepening economic engagement with the Arab world. This will help Syria avoid overdependence on any single actor and enhance its strategic flexibility amid global uncertainty.

This approach reflects a clear-eyed understanding of Syria’s geopolitical reality: The country can no longer afford to be part of rigid geopolitical axes. Its survival now depends on its ability to navigate between competing powers – leveraging their rivalry for national benefit without becoming anyone’s pawn. Maintaining cooperative relations with Russia and expanding dialogue with non-Western powers is not just a matter of foreign policy – it is a means of preserving autonomy in a context of limited sovereignty.

The lifting of sanctions and al-Sharaa’s ascent have opened a potential path toward stabilization. But the durability of this trajectory depends on the regime’s ability not only to harness economic resources but also to execute a complex, multi-layered political and diplomatic agenda. Domestically, this means launching mechanisms of integration and decentralization; externally, it requires deft maneuvering between Western and non-Western actors. In this evolving environment, Russia remains an important partner for Syria – not as an exclusive ally, but as a key component in the multifaceted diplomacy that al-Sharaa will seek to construct in order to reinforce not just his own authority, but the very foundations of the Syrian state.

Ukraine has sent its proposal to Russia ahead of peace talks

Ukraine’s memorandum ahead of the next round of direct negotiations with Russia calls for an internationally observed ceasefire, the New York Times has reported, citing an anonymous senior official. Moscow has consistently maintained that any ceasefire should not be used by Kiev to rearm its forces.

The two sides last met for direct talks in Istanbul on May 16, marking the first formal negotiations since 2022. The meeting resulted in the largest prisoner exchange to date, with 1,000 POWs released by each side. The parties also agreed to prepare memorandums outlining their positions on a potential ceasefire ahead of the next meeting.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed holding follow-up talks on Monday, June 2, again in Istanbul.

In an article on Friday, the NYT quoted an unnamed source as saying that the Ukrainian document includes “provisions for a cease-fire on land, at sea and in the air, with monitoring to be carried out by international partners.”

The Ukrainian leadership had previously insisted on a 30-day pause in hostilities as a precondition for negotiations. Russia rejected that scenario, arguing that Kiev would use it to regroup its military. The NYT did not mention the timeframe in Kiev’s latest proposal.

Speaking on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga accused Moscow of stalling the negotiations by refusing to share its memorandum ahead of the meeting on Monday.

That same day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the document “will not be made public.”

Responding to a similar demand made by Ukrainian defense minister and top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, on Wednesday, Peskov dismissed it as “unconstructive.”

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova revealed that Moscow’s memorandum includes the “principles of settlement, a timeframe for a potential peace agreement [and] a potential ceasefire for a certain period of time.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that for a full ceasefire to be achieved, Ukraine must halt mobilization, stop receiving foreign weapons, and withdraw its forces from the territories that became part of Russia following referendums in 2022.

Meanwhile, in an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, urged Kiev to attend the next round of negotiations with Moscow, irrespective of whether or not Russia agrees to share its memorandum beforehand.

Speaking of the Ukrainian document, Kellogg said that he had seen it, revealing that the memorandum includes 22 terms which he characterized as “pretty good” and “reasonable.”