Trump orders increased minerals production, says Ukraine deal coming soon
US president invokes wartime powers to boost production of rare earths and other critical minerals. United States President Donald Trump has said his administration will sign a rare earths deal with Ukraine “very shortly,” after invoking wartime powers to boost domestic production of critical minerals. In an address at the White House on Thursday, Trump said his administration was forging agreements in “various locations” to gain access to rare earth minerals, which are used in the manufacturing of electronics, batteries and magnets, among other items. “One of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine … They have tremendous value in rare earths, and we appreciate that,” Trump said. Trump made the remarks shortly after signing an executive order directing federal agencies to identify mines and government-owned land that could be exploited to boost the production of critical minerals. The order invokes powers contained in the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law that grants Washington sweeping authority to mobilise industrial resources in the service of national security. Advertisement The US and Ukraine had been due to sign a deal granting Washington access to Kyiv’s natural resources until a public bust-up between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month derailed the plan. Zelenskyy said earlier this month that his government was “ready to sign” a rare earths deal despite the tense exchange with Trump at the White House, but he wanted the “Ukrainian position to be heard.” Trump has pushed Kyiv to grant Washington access to its natural resources as part of his administration’s efforts to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy on Wednesday said Kyiv had agreed to a US proposal to pause attacks on energy infrastructure, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the plan. In his remarks at the White House on Thursday, Trump said his administration’s efforts to reach a peace deal were going “pretty well”. “So hopefully we can save thousands of people a week from dying. That’s what it is all about,” he said. “They’re dying so unnecessarily. Adblock test (Why?)
Japan first team to qualify for 2026 World Cup after victory over Bahrain
Japan ensure a top two finish with 2-0 win against Bahrain in Group C of Asia qualifiers for 2026 World Cup. Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium. Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo ensured the Samurai Blue secured a spot in Asia Group C’s top two automatic qualification places. At its eighth straight World Cup, Japan joins co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico in the expanded 48-team tournament. “Thanks to the players for their efforts and the fans for their support,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. “We knew that if we persevered that the goals would come. We will try and win our three remaining games and grow as a team.” Japan players celebrate with coach Hajime Moriyasu after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters] Earlier, second-place Australia took a big step toward a seventh appearance by defeating Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney in the visitors’ first game under new coach Patrick Kluivert. Indonesia’s Kevin Diks missed a penalty in the eighth minute, and 10 minutes later Martin Boyle converted his spot kick to put the Socceroos ahead. Advertisement Nishan Velupillay and Jackson Irvine scored before the break and Lewis Miller made it 4-0 on the hour. Ole Romeny scored for Indonesia before Irvine grabbed his second and the hosts’ fifth. The top two from each of the three six-team groups in the third round of Asian qualifying advance to the World Cup, while the third- and fourth-place teams advance to another stage to compete for two more places. Adblock test (Why?)
Denmark beat sorry Portugal 1-0 in Nations League quarterfinal first-leg
Hojlund came off the bench to net the winner as his side beat Portugal 1-0 in the first leg of their Nations League quarterfinal. Rasmus Hojlund earned Denmark a deserved 1-0 lead over Portugal in their Nations League quarterfinal first-leg clash. The Manchester United forward delivered from the bench to split the teams in Copenhagen on Thursday, providing the finishing touch Denmark previously lacked on a night where they dominated Roberto Martinez’s side. The Spanish coach selected veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, upfront, but the Al Nassr striker was mostly frozen out of the game. Winners of the inaugural tournament in 2019, Portugal are aiming to become the first team to lift the Nations League trophy for a second time. However, they will need to improve swiftly to reach the semifinals as Denmark outclassed them and could have scored more on the night. Looking for their first win under coach Brian Riemer, who was appointed in October, the Danes were without injured captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Denmark piled on the pressure from the start, with debutant Mika Biereth charging down Diogo Costa’s clearance, but the goalkeeper managed to escape by conceding only a corner. Advertisement Jesper Lindstrom forced Costa into action again with an effort from a distance, while Pedro Neto tested Kasper Schmeichel at the other end. The hosts won a penalty when Portugal defender Renato Veiga handled the ball but Costa produced a superb save to deny Christian Eriksen. The Porto goalkeeper, an expert in saving spot kicks, dived low to his right to thwart the Manchester United midfielder. Eriksen looks dejected after missing a penalty [Michael Barrett Boesen/GocherImagery/Future Publishing via Getty Images] Costa made another stunning save from Biereth to keep his team level, as Denmark turned the screw. When the hosts finally beat Costa, Diogo Dalot was in the right place at the right time to clear Eriksen’s effort off the line just before the break, after good work by Gustav Isaksen. Riemer’s side stayed on top in the second half, with Costa saving an Eriksen free kick, although Vitinha came close for Portugal, who showed occasional flashes of their quality on an otherwise lethargic display. Isaksen, a constant menace for Denmark, had a shot deflected behind as Denmark started to fear their dominance would not translate into a lead. However, Hojlund, on as a substitute, had other ideas. The striker, who ended a long Manchester United drought last weekend by scoring in his team’s win at Leicester City, broke the deadlock by slotting home to cap a fine move. Eriksen spread the ball to another substitute, Andreas Skov Olsen, who picked out Hojlund with a low ball to finish coolly in the 78th minute. Advertisement Portugal’s Bernardo Silva, making his 99th appearance for his country, had a penalty appeal late on waved away after falling under pressure from Patrick Dorgu in the box, and Schmeichel saved from Neto in the final stages. Portugal host Denmark in the second leg in Lisbon on Sunday, with the winner playing either Germany or Italy in the semifinal. Germany came from behind to defeat Italy 2-1 at the San Siro on Thursday in the first leg of their Nations League quarterfinal, with Leon Goretzka heading the winning goal 14 minutes from time. European champions Spain salvaged their two-year unbeaten streak in the dying minutes of their quarterfinal first leg, denying 10-man Netherlands a famous victory with a 2-2 draw. Mikel Merino broke Dutch hearts in the third minute of added time, to maintain an unbeaten run that now stretches to 22 competitive games. Meanwhile, Ivan Perisic scored one goal and made another as Croatia beat France 2-0 on Thursday to seize the upper hand in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie. Adblock test (Why?)
Ukraine, Russia confirm talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia next week
Talks on a United States proposal for a partial ceasefire in Ukraine are set to resume on Monday in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and Russian officials have confirmed. Speaking at a news conference in Oslo on Thursday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the structure of the meetings scheduled for Monday would see US officials meeting with Ukrainian experts and then holding separate talks with Russian representatives. “There will be a meeting of Ukraine and America and then some shuttle diplomacy, as our American colleagues said, America with Russia,” he told reporters after a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to President Vladimir Putin, confirmed that bilateral talks between Russian and US officials would be taking place on Monday in Riyadh, adding they would focus on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Russia will be represented by Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat who now chairs the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB). Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke by telephone on Tuesday, they had discussed the “Black Sea Initiative”. Following the call, the White House had issued a statement saying the leaders agreed to technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a full ceasefire and permanent peace. Limited ceasefire Following separate phone calls with US President Donald Trump this week, the Ukrainian and Russian leaders both agreed in principle to a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said on Thursday that although he originally had sought a broader ceasefire, he was committed to working with the US to stop arms being directed at power production and civilian facilities. The previous day, he had signalled that he intended to include not only energy targets, but also rail and port infrastructure in a list of facilities he would want to see included in the partial ceasefire. On Thursday, he stated he would not discuss potential US ownership of Ukraine’s Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with Trump, after US officials said Washington could take over. The plant, caught in the crossfire since Moscow seized it after invading Ukraine in 2022, is a significant asset, producing nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity in the year before the war. Asked about reports that Trump was considering recognising Russian-occupied Crimea as part of Russia, Zelenskyy said the US president had not raised the issue with him during their call. Advertisement The Kremlin has repeatedly said Crimea, where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based, is formally part of Russia. The Black Sea peninsula is internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory by most countries. Peacekeeping talks In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a meeting of Western military officials on Thursday to flesh out plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine as details of a partial ceasefire are worked out. Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, co-leaders of efforts to form the so-called “coalition of the willing”, have said they are willing to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine following any full ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv – an idea Russia has vehemently rejected. Macron has also said he would open a discussion on extending France’s nuclear umbrella to the entire European Union. Russia’s Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Security Council, said on Thursday that such statements “reflect the anti-Russian sentiment that reigns in Europe today”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Europe of turning into a “war party”. “For the most part, the signals from Brussels and European capitals concern plans to militarise Europe,” he said. Moscow also took aim at Berlin, after chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz proposed a huge spending boost on defence and said Moscow was waging a “war of aggression against Europe”. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the comments were a reflection of the “German political elites’ desire for historical revenge”. Advertisement EU summit While in Oslo, the Ukrainian leader addressed a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, which saw all member nations bar Hungary signing a joint statement backing Ukraine. Speaking by videolink, Zelenskyy said it was “simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent”, referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban’s repeated opposition to EU support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also urged EU leaders to approve a package of at least 5 billion euros ($5.4bn) for artillery purchases for Ukraine and called for continued pressure on Russia. Adblock test (Why?)
Will diplomacy end the conflict in eastern DRC?
Congolese and Rwandan leaders called for a ceasefire after holding direct talks in Qatar. The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been in a state of conflict since the late 1990s. The Rwandan-backed armed group M23 has been making gains this year after taking control of major cities in the east. The rebels were due to meet with DRC government officials in Angola on Tuesday. But M23 rebels withdrew – blaming new European Union sanctions for their decision. On Wednesday, DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame held talks in Doha. The leaders called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC. So, what does all this mean for the conflict? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Fidel Amakye Owusu – Chief executive officer for DefSEC Analytics Africa Angela Muvumba Sellstrom – Senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute Alex Vines – Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House Adblock test (Why?)
Missiles from Yemen target Israel despite US threats
NewsFeed At least two missiles launched from Yemen triggered warning sirens in Israel and the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The Israeli military says both were intercepted. The Houthis claimed responsibility for at least one of them and have said they will increase attacks in response to US strikes on Sanaa. Published On 20 Mar 202520 Mar 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Thousands mourn victims of North Macedonia nightclub fire
Ceremonies held across the country, but main funeral was in Kocani, where 30 victims were buried. Thousands of mourners have flocked to funerals in North Macedonia for the dozens of victims of last weekend’s devastating nightclub fire. The fire broke out during a concert by the hip-hop duo DNK at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani about 3am (02:00 GMT) on Sunday when sparks from flares set the ceiling alight. At least 59 people were killed and 155 were injured in the fire, triggering an outpouring of grief in the Balkan country. Burials were held in several cities and towns, but the main funeral was in Kocani, a town of about 25,000 people located 100km (62 miles) east of the capital Skopje, where 30 of the victims were buried. Thousands of mourners walked solemnly along dirt paths to newly dug graves marked with paper signs. Many carried baskets of white flowers or clutched photographs of their loved ones. Many wore T-shirts and badges with pictures and names of the deceased. People attend a funeral ceremony for the victims of a fire at the Pulse nightclub, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia [Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters] Several people overcome by grief required medical attention. A weeping man rested his head on the edge of one of the coffins. Advertisement Ana Kostadinovska, a backing vocalist for the band DNA, who survived the fire, wrote in an online post: “A part of my second family has left. Along with them, my soul. “All that remains is ashes and emptiness … and who would have thought that emptiness could hurt so much,” she wrote. The fire, and emerging stories of the harrowing scenes at the nightclub, have triggered an outpouring of grief and protests, led mostly by young people. Thursday’s religious service at the cemetery in Kocani was led by clergy from the country’s Orthodox Church, while Red Cross and emergency personnel were present to support grieving families. Workers prepare graves for a funeral ceremony at a cemetery, following a fire at Pulse nightclub that resulted in dozens of deaths, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia [Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters] Before the funerals, the country’s spiritual leader, Orthodox Archbishop Stefan, called for national unity in prayer for the victims and their families. “We pray constantly for the salvation of the innocent victims, holding memorial services for the deceased and offering prayers for the healing of the injured, as well as for the comfort of their families and loved ones,” he said. “National solidarity and unity are most needed in such difficult times,” he added. “We call on all the faithful to preserve peace within ourselves and peace among ourselves, and, praying diligently, to mourn with dignity.” Stefan presided over the Kocani funerals. Separate funeral services took place in the capital, Skopje, and five other towns – several neighbouring Kocani – where many businesses closed as a sign of respect. Advertisement Public tributes were also made for Ile Gocevski, a Kocani ambulance driver who died of apparent heart failure after completing 11 hospital runs on the night of the fire. Families and friends attend a joint funeral for the victims of the fire that erupted at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia [Fatos Bytyci/Reuters] The investigation into the tragedy continues to widen. Seven police officers are among more than 20 people detained as authorities probe the lack of fire safety measures at the Pulse nightclub, as well as allegations that the club’s permits had been obtained illegally. Health Minister Arben Taravari said 72 people remain hospitalised across the country, while 101 patients are receiving treatment abroad. He described the condition of those being treated for burns, smoke inhalation, and trampling injuries as “stable or improved”, easing earlier concerns that the death toll could rise further. The ministry on Thursday released the names of the 59 victims. They included 41 who were in their 20s or younger and three 17-year-olds. Adblock test (Why?)
Netanyahu never planned to “Abandon Gaza Militarily”
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Netanyahu on Gaza
Israel targeting West Bank refugee camps is ethnic cleansing, analyst
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Israel’s targeting of refugee camps to “end the Palestinian refugee issue” is part of plans to ethnically cleanse.
‘Lunatic’: Trump’s long history of abusing judges who oppose him
United States President Donald Trump has doubled down on his criticism of a federal judge, calling him “radical left” for blocking the deportation of Venezuelan migrants, as his administration ramps up rhetoric against the courts. Trump on Tuesday called for the impeachment of Judge James Boasberg, accusing him of putting the US at risk. “We don’t want vicious, violent, and demented criminals, many of them deranged murderers, in our country,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday. Boasberg, who serves in the federal district court in Washington, DC, has come under attack since he issued an order to block deportation flights on Saturday. The Trump administration has been accused of ignoring Boasberg’s orders by sending several planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador prisons notorious for rights abuses. Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an obscure law meant to target nationals from an enemy nation during wartime. The courts have blocked several of Trump’s executive orders amid little resistance from the Republican-controlled Congress, attracting the wrath of the officials. Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi accused the judge of “meddling in our government” while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt believes judges are acting as “judicial activists”. The US president on his part called Boasberg a “radical left lunatic” “appointed by [former president] Barack Hussein Obama”. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has criticised calls to impeach Judge Boasberg, but that has not stopped Trump from attacking the judge. The US president lashed out at Roberts as well, suggesting the Supreme Court itself was compromised by political bias. The latest rhetoric is just one in a series of attacks Trump has launched against judges and courts who challenge his policies or hold him accountable in cases brought against him. Why have Trump and officials from his administration clashed with the judiciary? There’s a troubling pattern of Trump attacking judges and courts in the past. Let’s take a look. A pattern of attacks? Trump’s contempt for the courts predates his presidency but reached new levels during his time in office. Usually, if a ruling went against him, the judge was deemed by Trump biased, incompetent, or part of a left-wing conspiracy. One of the earliest examples came in 2016 when Trump, then a presidential candidate, attacked US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was overseeing fraud lawsuits against his now-defunct Trump University. Trump suggested Curiel was unfit to preside over the case because of his Mexican heritage, calling him a “hater” and implying he could not be fair due to Trump’s hardline stance on immigration. The attack drew widespread condemnation. Advertisement Once in the White House, Trump continued to fight the judiciary. In 2017, when Judge James Robart issued a temporary block on his travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, Trump labelled him a “so-called judge” and accused him of endangering national security. In 2018, Trump dubbed Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Jon Tigar “an Obama judge” after he ruled that an immigrant could claim asylum regardless of where she entered the country. The same year, Trump attacked the judiciary after an appeals court in California blocked his administration from deporting young immigrants shielded under an Obama-era programme. Trump did not hesitate to also target the Supreme Court when it ruled against him. He was incensed when the court rejected his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump continues to believe that his 2020 presidential election was stolen. In particular, he turned against Chief Justice Roberts, calling him “disgraceful” and “a disappointment”. Did his attacks against the judiciary go up after the end of his first term? As Trump’s legal troubles mounted after his presidency ended in 2020, his attacks on judges became even more personal. Facing multiple indictments ranging from election interference to business fraud, Trump often took to social media to condemn judges overseeing his cases. In his New York civil fraud case, where he was found liable for boosting his net worth, Trump called Judge Arthur Engoron “unhinged” and a “Trump-hating, radical left, Democrat operative”. He mocked his law clerk on social media, saying he was “politically biased and corrupt”, prompting a gag order. Advertisement Despite the restriction, Trump did not hold back. In his federal election interference case, presided over by Judge Tanya Chutkan, Trump labelled her “highly partisan”, “very biased and unfair”, and suggested she was out to get him. His verbal assaults led prosecutors to argue that his rhetoric was endangering the judicial process and potentially inciting threats against judges and court staff. Chutkan had warned Trump against making any “inflammatory statements” before the first hearing. “Your client’s defence is supposed to happen in this courtroom, not on the internet,” Chutkan told Trump’s lawyers, adding that the more anyone made “inflammatory” statements about the case, the greater her urgency would be to quickly move the case to trial. Trump also attacked liberal Supreme Court justices, particularly Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In 2020, Trump demanded that both judges “recuse” themselves from cases involving him, accusing them of bias, particularly after Sotomayor criticised the Trump administration’s frequent appeals to the top court to intervene in lower-court decisions. Trump took to Twitter, which later became X, calling remarks by Sotomayor “highly inappropriate”. His animosity towards Justice Ginsburg was even more pronounced. Before her passing in 2020, Ginsburg had publicly criticised Trump during his 2016 campaign, calling him a “faker” and expressing concern over his presidency. Trump fired back, calling her a “disgrace” to the court and demanding she resign. After her death, he faced backlash for quickly nominating a conservative replacement, Amy Coney Barrett. Advertisement In 2020, Trump attacked Judge Amy Berman Jackson over the conviction of his long-term aide Roger Stone in a witness tempering case. He said Stone’s jury was “tainted’ with anti-Trump bias. The case symbolised political meddling in high-profile cases as Trump used social media to question the judiciary’s fairness. Stone was pardoned in December 2020 at the end of Trump’s first term. Trump’s