Fact & Spin

Duterte Arrest, US-Ukraine Talks and Pakistan Train Hijacking

Former Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is arrested, The US and Canada agree to renegotiate the USMCA trade agreement, The Syrian Democratic Forces agree to integrate with the government, The US resumes aid to Ukraine as Kyiv says its open to a 30-day ceasefire, A militant group claims to have taken 182 civilians hostage in an attack on a Pakistani train, A former Meta executive alleges that Facebook developed censorship tools for China, RFK Jr. seeks to end a ‘self-affirm’ rule for food ingredient safety, A report finds that only seven countries breathe clean air, Katie Porter announces a run for California governor, and doctors confirm that Pope Francis’ health is no longer in immediate danger.
Sources: www.verity.news

Deadly Syrian clashes, Trudeau replacement vote and eastern Australia storms

The Syrian government says it’s ended its military operation against Assad loyalists, Mark Carney is chosen to replace Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Israel cuts off electricity to Gaza ahead of talks in Qatar, Romania bars a right-wing candidate from the presidential election rerun, Reform UK suspends Rupert Lowe amid party infighting, Donald Trump declines to rule out a 2025 recession amid trade turmoil, an oil tanker-cargo ship collision sparks a major rescue operation in the North Sea, the Secret Service shoots an armed man outside the White House, the US Supreme Court agrees to review Colorado's 'conversion therapy' ban, and ex-Cyclone Alfred wreaks havoc across eastern Australia.
Sources: www.verity.news

Yoon Release Order, Trump Iran Outreach and SpaceX Rocket Explosion

A South Korean court orders the release of impeached President Yoon, Trump says he sent a letter to Iran's leader to seek a nuclear deal, Donald Trump limits Elon Musk's authority over federal workforce cuts, The US and Ukraine prepare to hold talks in Saudi Arabia, Clashes between Syrian forces and Assad loyalists kill dozens, A US House panel subpoenas Google over Biden-era content moderation policies, Three Bulgarian nationals are found guilty of spying for Russia in the UK, The world’s sea ice cover is found to have hit a historic low, A half-ton World War II bomb delayed hundreds of thousands of travelers in Paris, and SpaceX’s Starship explodes mid-flight for the second time this year.
Sources: www.verity.news

Greek political tensions, Trump tariff reversal and aspirin cancer benefits

the Greek Prime Minister faces a no-confidence vote after protests over the 2023 train disaster, Pres. Trump suspends Mexico tariffs until April, an Iranian singer is flogged for an anti-hijab protest, the White House denies that there is a current plan to revoke Ukrainian refugees' status, while Trump threatens Hamas over hostage release, new polling shows that Sir Keir Starmer's favorability is at a six month high, New Zealand sacks its UK envoy, the US House censures Rep. Al Green after his disruption of Trump’s speech, a report suggests that 36 firms are responsible for 50% of global CO2 emissions, and a study says aspirin may stop some cancers from spreading.
Sources: www.verity.news

Trump-Congress speech, increased German spending and Antarctic iceberg grounding

Pres. Trump delivers a major speech to Congress, Germany plans to relax its debt brake and increase defense spending, a BlackRock-led group buys Panama Canal ports from a Hong Kong firm, the US halts the flow of intelligence to Ukraine, while the US and Israel reject Egypt's Gaza reconstruction plan, the UK’s treasury is reportedly planning billions in welfare cuts, the US Supreme Court denies the Trump Admin.’s bid to block USAID payments, a judge rejects Elon Musk's bid to block OpenAI’s for-profit conversion, China sets its 2025 GDP growth target to around 5%, and the world's largest iceberg runs aground in the South Atlantic ocean.
Sources: www.verity.news

Trump tariffs arrival, Riyadh-Beirut talks and “woolly mouse” engineering

The US faces retaliatory measures as Trump’s planned tariffs take effect, Saudi Arabia considers resuming Lebanese imports, Trump suspends all US military aid to Ukraine, the Arab League discusses a post-war Gaza reconstruction plan, the UN reports that hundreds of children have been sexually assaulted amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict, the US Social Security Administration identifies $800M in savings, the UK launches an anti-migration ad campaign in Iraq, Linda McMahon is confirmed as US education secretary, half of adults across the world are predicted to be overweight by 2050, and scientists create the 'woolly mouse' using mammoth genes.
Sources: www.verity.news
 

Mannheim Car Attack, Upright Moon Landing and Anora Oscars Win

Zelenskyy says Ukraine is still 'ready to sign' a US minerals deal, Multiple casualties are reported as a car rams into a crowd in Mannheim, Germany, Israel halts humanitarian aid to Gaza, The US reportedly halts offensive cyber operations against Russia, King Charles III meets with Justin Trudeau, Trump's crypto reserve plan sparks a major digital currency rally, A judge blocks Trump's firing of a federal watchdog chief, Pope Francis suffers two episodes of acute respiratory failure, A private US lander makes the first upright moon landing, An Australian blood donor who saved 2.4M lives passes away, and indie film Anora receives five Oscars.
Sources: www.verity.news
 

Zelenskyy-Trump sparring, PRC-Australia tensions and lunar water hunting

Donald Trump calls Volodymyr Zelenskyy 'disrespectful' in an Oval Office blow-up, China's naval drills near Australia spark regional tension, Canada’s Doug Ford secures a third consecutive majority government in Ontario's snap election, Austria forms a coalition without its right-wing election-winner, a key UK international development minister resigns over aid cuts, Pres. Trump plans to sign an Executive Order making English the official US language, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration begins mass DOGE layoffs, while a US judge blocks the large-scale firing of federal workers, Africa's health systems reportedly face collapse amid a chronic disease surge, and SpaceX launches a water-hunting fleet to the Moon.
Sources:  www.verity.news

Trump Cabinet Meeting, Thailand Uyghur Deportations and Mexico Elephant Ruling

Trump holds the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, A high-level meeting between the EU and US is canceled, The UK’s Starmer meets with Trump, The jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party calls for the group to disarm, Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs to China, The US Supreme Court hears a case of alleged ‘straight discrimination,’ An inquiry finds that Greece's worst rail disaster was due to system failures, The Washington Posts’ opinion section refocuses its attention on free markets and liberties, Texas reports its first death amid an outbreak of measles, and Mexico’s Supreme Court orders a zoo to take better care of its African elephant.
Sources:  www.verity.news

NKorea crypto heist, Trump ‘gold card’ visa and tardigrade cancer treatment

North Korean hackers allegedly pull off a record $1.5B crypto heist, an international watchdog says Iran has increased its near-weapons grade uranium stockpile, the UK and Irish governments will consider formal paramilitary engagement, Donald Trump says Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a Ukraine minerals agreement on Friday, South Korea's birth rate rises for the first time in nine years, Pres. Trump unveils a $5M “Gold Card” visa, while the House GOP passes Trump’s budget blueprint, the US Dept. of Agriculture commits $1B to fight bird flu, Chile declares an emergency after a nationwide power outage, and a study suggests that tardigrade protein shows promise in cancer care.
Sources:  www.verity.news