Tag Archives: War in Ukraine

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Comey and James Indictments Dismissed, New Ukraine Peace Plan, Pressure On Venezuela

Maravi Post Reporter

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p class=”readrate”>A federal judge dismissed the indictments President Trump ordered up against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The judge found the prosecutor in the case was improperly appointed. 

Europeans have offered their own proposal to end the war in Ukraine. How is it different from President Trump’s 28-point proposal?

Also, the Trump administration named Venezuela’s president the leader of a terror group. 

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Kate Bartlett, Rebekah Metzler, HJ Mai and Alice Woelfle.

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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

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p class=”readrate”>We get engineering support from Damien Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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PUTIN US MEETING, NETANYAHU’S GAZA PLAN, TRUMP DC ACTION

Maravi Post Reporter

President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin prepare talks to end the war in Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to forcibly move Gaza’s residents to take control of the entire Palestinian enclave. And Trump deploys federal agents as a show of force across Washington, D.C.


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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebecca Rossman, Hannah Bloch, Kevin Drew, Olivia Hampton and Adam Bearne. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. 

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Fort Stewart Shooting, Tariff Deadline, Trump And Putin Meeting Prospects

Maravi Post Reporter

Five soldiers were shot and injured by one of their co-workers at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia, higher import tariffs taking effect today are beginning to weigh on the US economy, and President Trump says prospects look good for a meeting on ending the war in Ukraine with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Susanna Capelouto, Rafael Nam, Krishnadev Calamur, Janaya Williams and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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White House Envoy In Moscow, MAGA Split On Gaza, Redefining The Attorney General Role

Maravi Post Reporter

White House envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin, days before President Trump’s deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine or face sanctions. Some of the President’s core supporters are expressing disagreement with President Trump on issues from Gaza to Jeffrey Epstein, and the Justice Department has reportedly set up a grand jury investigation into the Obama administration’s handling of the 2016 Presidential election.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Roberta Rampton, Megan Pratz, Janaya Williams and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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Trump to speak with Putin, then Zelenskyy, to push for Ukraine ceasefire

Maravi Post Reporter

U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by phone Monday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, followed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of various NATO countries, about ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump said the call with Putin will be about stopping the “bloodbath” in Ukraine.

“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end,” Trump wrote Saturday in a post on his social networking site Truth Social.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed in comments to Russian media that preparations were underway for Monday’s call.

Trump’s remarks came a day after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years failed to yield a ceasefire. Putin had spurned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey after he himself proposed direct negotiations — although not at the presidential level — as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including the U.S.

Also on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. During a visit to Rome, Rubio suggested that the Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

In Ukraine, a northeastern town declared a period of mourning after a Russian drone hit a bus evacuating civilians from front-line areas, killing nine people, Ukrainian officials said. The strike came hours after the Russian and Ukrainian delegations left Istanbul, after agreeing to what would be the biggest prisoner swap to date between the warring parties.

Zelenskyy faces a gamble as talks stall

The talks in Istanbul on Friday broke up after less than two hours without a ceasefire, although both sides agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Ukrainian television Saturday that the exchange could happen as early as next week.

But the Kremlin has pushed back against a proposal by Ukraine and its Western allies for a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement, and the parties remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting.

Since U.S.-brokered talks began in March, Ukraine’s strategy has been to convince the Trump administration that Putin is unreliable, and that Kyiv is serious about peace. Trump has expressed frustration with the stalled talks and threatened to abandon his efforts if results aren’t achieved.

He has also said that no peace would be reached until he held a face to face meeting with Putin. On Friday, Trump told reporters after boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from Abu Dhabi that he may call Putin soon.

“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it, or maybe not,” Trump said. “At least we’ll know.”

The political theatrics are underscored by stark realities on the ground in Ukraine. In a war of attrition against Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s position is poised to grow weaker as time goes on, unless powerful sanctions are imposed against Moscow and the U.S. continues arms deliveries.

Zelenskyy said that he had discussed the outcome of the talks with Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland. In an X post from a European leadership meeting in Albania on Friday, Zelenskyy urged “tough sanctions” against Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings.”

Peskov on Saturday held open the possibility of Putin holding talks with Zelenskyy, providing the agreed prisoner swap goes ahead, and if the Russian and Ukrainian delegations reached unspecified further “agreements.”

Peskov also told reporters that Moscow will present Ukraine with a list of conditions for a ceasefire, but gave no timeframe, or say what needed to happen before Zelenskyy and Putin can meet.

A town in mourning

In Ukraine, nine civilians were killed and seven others were wounded when a Russian drone struck a bus evacuating people from Bilopillia, a town around 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Russia’s border, according to local Gov. Oleh Hryhorov and Ukraine’s national police. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Moscow.

Zelenskyy described the attack as “deliberate killing of civilians,” adding in a post on the Telegram messaging app that “Russians could scarcely not realize what kind of vehicle they were hitting.”

The local media outlet Suspilne said that the passengers on the bus were being evacuated from the town when the strike happened. Authorities are working to identify some of the victims, most of them older women.

Local community chief Yurii Zarko called the day “Black Saturday,” and mourning was declared in the town through Monday.

Zelenskyy lamented the missed opportunity from Friday’s peace talks, saying that “Ukraine has long proposed this — a full and unconditional ceasefire in order to save lives.”

Ukraine’s European allies strongly condemned the attack. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that he was “appalled” by it. “If Putin is serious about peace, Russia must agree to a full and immediate ceasefire, as Ukraine has done,” he wrote on X.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking at a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, condemned Russia for “continuing their attacks today with undiminished ferocity.” He vowed to continue to increase the pressure on Moscow with added sanctions.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/19/07/03/ED_PYR_1519073_20250518071351.mp4
Lifestyle

Russia stages massive victory day parade, Putin hails troops in Ukraine as foreign leaders attend

Maravi Post Reporter

Russia marked the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a grand military parade on Red Square in Moscow, showcasing its military strength amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The event, held on May 9—Russia’s most important secular holiday—was attended by several foreign leaders, underlining the Kremlin’s efforts to project international influence and defy Western isolation.

Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, along with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, joined President Vladimir Putin for the commemorations. Vučić’s visit marks his first trip to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, despite EU warnings that such a move could jeopardize Serbia’s EU accession hopes.

In his speech, President Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, calling them defenders against Nazism, Russophobia, and antisemitism.

“Russia has been and will be an impassable barrier for Nazism… The truth and fairness are on our side,” he declared, emphasizing national unity and pride in Russia’s “special military operation.”

More than 11,500 troops and 180 military vehicles, including tanks and nuclear-capable missile launchers, took part in the display. The air show featured fighter jets trailing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.

The celebrations were held under tight security due to recent Ukrainian drone attacks and airport disruptions in Moscow. Internet outages were also reported, likely due to electronic countermeasures.

This year’s Victory Day, while rooted in remembrance of the Soviet Union’s immense sacrifices during World War II, also served as a platform for Putin to solidify domestic support and promote new global alliances amid an increasingly divided international landscape.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/49/30/01/ED_PYR_1449301_20250509142603.mp4
Lifestyle

Power Play or Partnership? America’s Strategy in Africa [Business Africa]

Maravi Post Reporter

This Week: U.S. Influence in Africa, EU-Zimbabwe Trade, and Uganda’s Tea Crisis

This week, our guest, historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, revisits the intensifying American influence in Africa, spanning energy and mining projects. Meanwhile, the European Union seeks to strengthen its trade ties with Zimbabwe, and in Uganda, the tea industry is reeling from a pricing crisis.

Africa and the U.S.’s Multidimensional Strategy

As major powers vie for access to Africa’s strategic resources, the United States is deploying a complex strategy that blends economic investments, security cooperation, and diplomatic mediation. This approach aims not only to secure energy and mineral supplies but also to counter the growing influence of China and Russia on the continent.

Nigeria-Morocco Pipeline: An Energy and Geopolitical Keystone

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project (5,660 km, $25 billion) perfectly illustrates this strategy. Actively supported by Washington, this mega-project serves several strategic goals: reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, countering Chinese advances—with the Jingye Group already supplying construction materials—and bolstering American influence. “There has been a reshaping of energy stakes since the war in Ukraine,” explains historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, noting how the U.S. is exploiting Europe’s new vulnerabilities.

DR Congo: Mining Wealth and Instrumentalized Instability

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. strategy reveals its contradictions. On one hand, companies like KoBold Metals (backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos) are making major investments in cobalt and copper extraction. On the other, Washington offers conditional military support in the east of the country while positioning itself as a mediator in the conflict with Rwanda. “We are witnessing the monetization of instability,” Boukari-Yabara warns, highlighting “a U.S. ability to exert diplomatic, commercial, and security blackmail.” This approach peaks with opaque negotiations involving Rwanda over Congolese resources, which “tend to perpetuate the crisis in eastern Congo.”

Kenya and Rare Earths: A Strategic Partnership

In Kenya, the U.S. is strengthening partnerships around rare earths, which are essential for the energy transition. This push is part of a global race for critical minerals, where Washington seeks to close the gap with Beijing. It also comes alongside a military repositioning in the region, particularly in the Sahel after France’s withdrawal.

Questionable Tactics

Recent American initiatives raise concerns about respect for African sovereignty. The most striking example is Trump’s proposal to recognize Somaliland in exchange for accepting Palestinian refugees. For Boukari-Yabara, these “deal-making negotiations” reflect a purely transactional view of relations with Africa.

In the face of this aggressive policy, the historian calls for an urgent, unified continental response: “We need to create transnational industries and resolve the CFA franc issue.” His call for unity resonates, as “all these resources directly concern the U.S. in its global vision.” The key question remains whether African countries can turn this new geopolitical rivalry into a genuine opportunity for sovereign development.

Zimbabwe: Toward Strengthened Trade Ties with the EU?

As the United States reduces its aid to many African countries, the European Union is revising its strategy on the continent—particularly in Zimbabwe. Brussels is moving from the role of donor to co-investor, offering duty- and tax-free access to its market. France is supporting local agricultural SMEs, and the Netherlands already imports Zimbabwean fruits and steel.

This renewed European trade push comes amid a tense political climate. The recent NGO law (PVO Bill), deemed repressive by civil organizations, has sparked concern. Nevertheless, the EU hopes Zimbabwean businesses will seize the opportunity.

A report by Keith Baptist.

Uganda: Tea Industry in Peril Amid Price Collapse

Uganda’s tea industry is undergoing an unprecedented crisis. Tea prices have dropped significantly, averaging just $0.79 per kilo—far below the more than $2 fetched by Kenyan and Rwandan teas. This sharp price drop has led many farmers to abandon tea in favor of more profitable crops such as maize and bananas.

Victoria Ashabahebwa, director of Swazi Tea Co. LTD, notes that more than a million Ugandans depend on tea for their livelihood. Declining tea quality, high production costs, and a lack of government support are all contributing factors. Farmers and processors have called on the government to invest in the sector and rescue an industry that was once thriving—but so far, no official response has been given.

A report by Isabel Nakirya.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/13/69/73/01/ED_PYR_1369731_20250501154040.mp4
Lifestyle

Global military expenditure tops $2.7 trillion in 2024 – Report

Maravi Post Reporter

Countries spent a record $2.7 trillion on arms and weapons systems last year, the fastest rise in military expenditure since at least the end of the Cold War in 1989.

A report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says that the figure shows an increase of just over 9 percent from 2023.

It said Europe spent the biggest on the military, fueled in part by the war in Ukraine.

SIPRI notes that Russia’s spending went up 38 percent to an estimated $149 billion, dwarfing that of Ukraine which stood $64.7 billion.

Germany was central and western Europe’s biggest spender in 2024, splashing some $88 billion on arms.

The United States, by far the biggest spender, increased expenditure by 5.7 percent, reaching nearly a trillion dollars. Washington alone accounts for 37 percent of worldwide spending.

Collectively, members of the NATO war alliance spent $1.5 trillion.

Another notable increase was by Israel whose spending surged 65 percent to reach $45 billion as it continues its war on Gaza.

China only increased its defence budget modestly. The world’s second-largest economy’s military spending expanded by 7 percent to reach an estimated $314 billion, the report said..

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/13/41/08/03/ED_PYR_1341083_20250428071220.mp4
Lifestyle

Ukraine Talks, U.S. Health Agency Cuts, NYC Mayor Eric Adams Fallout

Maravi Post Reporter

American and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration has started making broad cuts to federal health agencies. Days after the Justice Department moved to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, four of his top aides and deputy mayors announced their resignations.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Jane Greenhalgh, Denice Rios, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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Paris Emergency Summit, Marco Rubio in the Middle East, Trump’s First Month

Maravi Post Reporter

European leaders meet in Paris to discuss an emerging transatlantic chasm over security and the war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in the Middle East amplifying President Trump’s vision for Gaza. And a review of Trump’s first four weeks reshaping the U.S. government.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Didi Schanche, Krishnadev Calamur Reena Advani and Adriana Gallardo. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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