Thursday, April 3, 2025

BIG Wrap

China vows to take ‘necessary measures’ over $2 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan

(Al Jazeera Media Network) China has slammed the latest round of United States arms sales to Taiwan, vowing to take “all necessary measures” to assert its sovereignty over the self-ruled island it claims as its own. The US State Department on Friday approved a $2-billion arms sale package for Taiwan, including advanced surface-to-air missile systems and radar as part of its efforts to counter China’s growing military power in the Asia Pacific. The administration of US...

Washington Post faces backlash after declining to endorse presidential candidate

(BBC News) The Washington Post has announced it will not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election, provoking a backlash among some of its employees and subscribers. CEO William Lewis said the decision was a return "to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates" and that the newspaper was ending the practice going forward. The move breaks with decades of tradition, with the paper having endorsed a candidate in most presidential elections since the 1970s...

In three-hour Rogan interview, Trump describes ‘biggest mistake’

(BBC News) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump‘s three-hour interview with the United States’ #1 podcaster, Joe Rogan, has been released. In the wide-ranging sit-down, the former president discusses everything from the “biggest mistake” of his White House tenure, what he told North Korea’s leader, and whether extraterrestrial life exists. Two years ago, Rogan described Trump as “an existential threat to democracy” and refused to have him on his show. But the pair seemed friendly on Friday...

Israel strikes Iran — what we know and what’s next

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Israel has attacked Iran, killing two Iranian soldiers. It also launched simultaneous strikes on Iran-linked interests in Syria. Israel says the campaign early on Saturday targeted military sites and was a response to attacks from “Iran and its proxies”. Iran says it will continue defending against Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, and Iranian officials. This is the first time Israel openly claimed an attack on Iran. Here’s what to know about the latest strikes and what to...

Zelensky snubs UN chief Guterres after his Russia trip

(BBC News) Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected a visit to Ukraine by UN Secretary General António Guterres over his trip to Russia, a source in the presidential office has told the BBC. After attending a BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan this week, Guterres had wanted to visit Kyiv, the BBC says. "The president did not confirm his visit," the source told the BBC. "After Kazan and after he shook hands with the war’s instigator...

Biden announces $50-billion G7 loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets

(Al Jazeera Media Network) The White House has announced that the Group of Seven (G7) will offer Ukraine a $50-billion loan backed by interests accrued on Russian government assets frozen by the political and economic group of wealthy nations. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the United States will cover $20 billion of the loan, which “will be paid back by the interest earned from immobilized Russian sovereign assets.” “In other words, Ukraine can receive the assistance...

At least five dead in attack at Turkish aviation company

(BBC News) At least five people have been killed and 22 injured in an attack at the headquarters of an aviation company near the Turkish capital Ankara, authorities have confirmed. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that two attackers, a woman and a man, have been "neutralized", adding that the attack had most likely involved Kurdish rebel group the PKK. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Turkey's defence ministry announced late on Wednesday that air strikes had...

Russia’s BRICS summit: what’s on the agenda and why it matters to Putin

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting the annual BRICS summit, which started on Tuesday, in Russia’s southwestern city Kazan. The three-day conclave will be the largest gathering of world leaders in Russia in decades and will be held at a time when the Kremlin is locked in a war with western-backed Ukraine. So what is on the agenda, and why is the summit significant? BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The group...

Biden ‘concerned’ about release of files on Israel’s plans to strike Iran

(Al Jazeera Media Network) The White House says United States President Joe Biden is “deeply concerned” about the apparent leak of US government documents outlining intelligence assessments about Israel’s preparations to attack Iran. Washington is not sure how the documents posted on the social media platform Telegram last week were made public, White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday. It is unclear whether the files were leaked or hacked. “The president remains deeply concerned about any leakage...

Blasts heard in Lebanon as Israel vows to hit Hezbollah’s financial sites

(BBC News) The Israeli military has warned residents in 24 areas in Lebanon – including 14 in the capital Beirut – that it plans to carry out strikes in the coming hours and throughout the night. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it would target banks and other financial infrastructure supporting Hezbollah. A BBC correspondent in Beirut said there have been eight air strikes in the capital's southern Dahieh district, an area controlled by Hezbollah. Lebanon's state-run...