It’s not for Russia to decide on peacekeepers in Ukraine – French President Macron

CC™ Global News

By Matthew Atungwu

French President Emmanuel Macron said the stationing of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as proposed by Britain and France as part of a ceasefire agreement with Russia, is a question for Kyiv to decide and not Moscow.

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have reportedly been rushing to consolidate military support for Ukraine as US President Donald Trump presses for a peace deal with Russia.

It could be recalled that Starmer hosted a virtual meeting on Saturday with Macron and other non-US allies of Ukraine.

“Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for allied forces to be on its territory, it’s not something for Russia to accept or not,” Macron said.

Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of soldiers from countries belonging to the NATO alliance being stationed in Ukraine.

According to Macron, any peacekeeping force would consist of a few thousand troops per country to be deployed at key locations, adding a number of European and non-European countries were interested in participating.

However, like other aspects of a potential truce, the form of any peacekeeping force remains uncertain.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has said that that any firm commitments would come once there was a clear plan.

“There are anywhere from zero to 50 different ways they can help, boots on the ground is only one way. You can talk about intelligence, you can talk about different types of things but it’s too early to commit right now,” he said.

Britain and France both stated that they could send peacekeepers to Ukraine, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country was also open to requests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he supported in principle Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.

DAILY POST

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The Ivy League - The Shift From Traditional Conservative Values To Populist Megalomania Laced With Tyranny

CC™ Opinion

By Boyejo A. Coker, Editor-in-Chief 

The recent shift in the leadership cadre produced by Ivy League schools, may reflect broader societal, political, and cultural changes, that have evolved, over time. Historically, institutions like Yale, Harvard, and others have educated individuals who went on to hold significant political power and influence. Examples of these include the likes of George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Now, while these men do represent a wide range of political ideologies and eras, they are often associated with a more traditional, establishment-oriented approach to governance.

In contrast, more recent figures like Ron DeSantis, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and J.D. Vance are often seen as part of a newer wave of politicians who align with more populist, Neo-conservative, nationalistic, or disruptive political movements. This shift can be attributed to several factors:

1. Changing Political Landscape: Over the past few decades, the political landscape in the United States has become increasingly polarized and acerbically divisive. This polarization has influenced the types of leaders who have risen to prominence, with some appealing to more extreme or partisan bases.

2. Cultural Shifts: The cultural values and priorities of younger generations have evolved, and this is reflected in the types of leaders they support. Issues like identity politics, economic inequality, and climate change have become more central to political discourse, influencing the rise of certain political figures. This has seemed to engender an increasingly polarized political discourse, with little or no room for compromise. 

3. Media and Technology: The rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles has changed how politicians communicate and gain support. Consequently, some of the newer politicians have effectively used these platforms to build their profiles and connect with specific constituencies.

4. Institutional Changes: The Ivy League schools themselves have also evolved. While they continue to produce leaders across the political spectrum, the values and priorities of these institutions and their student bodies, have obviously shifted over time. This has definitely had a huge influence on the types of leaders they produce. 

5. Criticism of Elitism: There has been a growing backlash against perceived elitism and the establishment, particularly in conservative circles. The likes of DeSantis and Vance, have thus positioned themselves as outsiders or critics of the traditional elite, even though they themselves are products of elite institutions.

It's important to note that the impact of these leaders on democracy is both far-reaching and consequential. While supporters of figures like DeSantis, Hawley, and Cruz might argue that they are defending traditional values - challenging overreach by the federal government, or representing the interests of their constituents, critics will point to how their actions and rhetoric do in fact contribute to the erosion of democratic principles, norms and institutions.

Ultimately, while the evolution of leadership from Ivy League schools does reflect broader trends in American society and politics, the jury on the impact of these new generation of leaders, is still out. 

On initial evidence, it does not seem to augur well for the future of the American democratic experiment. 

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship explodes in space

CC™ Global News

SpaceX’s massive Starship spacecraft exploded in space on Thursday, minutes after lifting off from Texas, marking the second consecutive failure this year for Elon Musk’s Mars rocket programme. 

The explosion prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt air traffic in parts of Florida.

Several videos circulating on social media showed fiery debris streaking across the dusk skies near South Florida and the Bahamas after the spacecraft broke apart. 

SpaceX’s live stream of the mission captured the moment Starship began to spin uncontrollably, with its engines shutting down before contact was lost.

The failure of this eighth Starship test comes just over a month after the seventh ended in a similar explosive failure. 

Both incidents occurred during early mission phases that SpaceX had previously surpassed with ease, presenting a setback for Musk’s ambitious timeline to accelerate the program this year. 

The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket system remains central to his plan to send humans to Mars by the turn of the decade.

The FAA briefly grounded flights at Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando airports due to “space launch debris.” It later announced an investigation into the mishap.

The launch took place at around 6:30 p.m. ET (2330 GMT) from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas, facilities. The Super Heavy first-stage booster successfully returned to Earth as planned and was caught midair by a SpaceX crane. 

However, the upper stage of Starship encountered issues shortly after reaching space, Reuters reported.

SpaceX’s live feed showed the vehicle spinning uncontrollably, with a visualization indicating multiple engine shutdowns. 

Soon after, the company lost contact with the spacecraft. Referencing the previous failure, SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot remarked on the live stream, “Unfortunately this happened last time too, so we’ve got some practice now.”

TRIBUNE

Trump blinks, backs off Mexico, Canada tariffs after market blowback

CC™ PersPective

US President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a temporary rollback to steep tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico, providing some reprieve to companies and consumers after sustained blowback on global markets.

After his sweeping tariffs of up to 25 percent on the two US neighbors took effect Tuesday, stock markets tumbled, as economists warned that blanket tariffs could weigh on US economic growth and raise inflation in the near-term.

Though the Republican president dismissed suggestions that his trade decisions were linked to market turmoil, he decided to pause the levies for trade with Canada and Mexico that falls under a regional pact.

Trump also lowered the new 25 percent levy on Canadian potash, a key element of fertilizer which US officials said their country does not produce much of.

The tariff halt — which lasts until April 2 — came one day after the White House also announced a temporary reprieve for automakers.

The moves make conditions “much more favorable for our American car manufacturers,” Trump said Thursday.

But he added that major moves would be unveiled on April 2, the date that he has promised updates on “reciprocal tariffs” to remedy practices Washington deems unfair.

At that point, Canadian and Mexican goods could still face levies.

The US president also said he would not modify tariffs for steel and aluminum, which are due to take effect next week.

– ‘Good’ relationship with Mexico –

On the tariff halt for some Mexican goods, Trump said earlier on Truth Social that he “did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for” President Claudia Sheinbaum, adding: “Our relationship has been a very good one.”

His remarks stood in sharp contrast to the simmering tensions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau said Thursday that Ottawa will remain in a trade war with Washington for “the foreseeable future” even if there are “breaks for certain sectors.”

“Our goal remains to get these tariffs, all tariffs removed,” Trudeau added.

– ‘Economic reality’ –

For Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute, Trump’s easing of tariffs on Mexico was “a recognition of economic reality.”

The move was an acknowledgment that tariffs disrupt supply chains, that the burden of levies fall to consumers, and “that the market doesn’t like them and certainly doesn’t like the uncertainty surrounding them,” Lincicome told AFP.

Since taking office for his second term in January, Trump has made a series of tariff threats on allies and adversaries alike.

Trump justified the tariffs on Washington’s two neighbors and vital trade partners, along with China, as a way to stop illegal immigration and trafficking of the deadly drug fentanyl.

However, Canada contributes less than one percent of fentanyl to the illicit US supply, according to Canadian and US government data. It is also a relatively minor source of illegal immigration, compared to flows across the Mexican border.

China, meanwhile, has pushed back on US allegations of its role in the fentanyl supply chain, calling this a domestic issue that tariffs will not resolve.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that he was not concerned Trump’s tariffs would be inflationary, adding that any impact on prices would likely be temporary.

Trump has referred to tariffs as a source of US government revenue, and a way to remedy trade imbalances and unfair trade practices.

The US trade deficit surged to a new record in January, according to government data released Thursday.

The overall trade gap of the world’s biggest economy ballooned 34 percent to $131.4 billion, on the back of a jump in imports for the month, said the Commerce Department.

Analysts say the US deficit was likely bolstered by gold imports, but data also suggests businesses were importing more goods to try to get ahead of potential tariffs.

VANGUARD

Canada retaliates, issues 25% tariffs on $155B of American goods

CC™ PersPective

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced 25 percent tariffs on United States’ goods in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Trudeau said Canada is imposing tariffs on $155 billion worth of US goods from Tuesday.

Trump had signed an executive order authorizing an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico.

The US President also imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports.

Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, would also be taxed at an additional 10 percent.

However, Trudeau said “there is no justification for these actions,” dismissing the White House’s argument about the flow of drugs, including fentanyl, into the US.

Trudeau said Canada “will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered”.

He announced that tariffs on American goods would go into effect at 12:01 a.m. if the Trump tariffs go into effect at midnight as promised.

According to the statement, Canada will start with tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods, followed by tariffs on $125 billion of American products in 21 days.

Donald Trump’s Flirtations with Tyranny and Anarchy

CC™ PersPective

By Deji Komolafe, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Donald Trump's political style and rhetoric have often sparked contentious debate and criticism, with some commentators and political analysts expressing concerns about his approach to governance and its dire implications for democratic norms. Here are some key points of reference for context:

1. Authoritarian Rhetoric: Trump has been accused of using language that some interpret as authoritarian. For example, his references to "enemies of the people" when discussing the media, and his admiration for foreign dictators, have raised concerns about his commitment to democratic principles.

2. Election Integrity: Trump's repeated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 and 2020 elections, despite a lack of evidence, have been seen by some as an attempt to undermine confidence in democratic institutions. His refusal to concede the 2020 elections and the subsequent Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, further fueled these concerns.

3. Centralization of Power: Critics argue that Trump's presidency saw an unusual centralization of power within the White House, with a focus on loyalty to the president over traditional bureaucratic processes. This was evident in his frequent firing of officials who were seen as disloyal or who contradicted him publicly.

4. Erosion of Norms: Trump's presidency was marked by a departure from many established political norms. This includes his use of social media to bypass traditional media, his personal attacks on political opponents, and his willingness to challenge the independence of the judiciary and other branches of government.

5. Populist Appeal: Trump's populist rhetoric, which often framed him as the sole defender of "the people" against a corrupt elite, has been compared to tactics used by authoritarian leaders. This approach can undermine trust in institutions and create a binary, "us vs. them" political environment.

6. Handling of Protests: Trump's response to protests, particularly during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020, included threats to deploy the military to quell unrest, which some viewed as an overreach of executive power and a threat to civil liberties.

7. Pardons and Clemency: Trump's use of presidential pardons, including for political allies and individuals convicted of crimes that aligned with his political interests, has been criticized as undermining the rule of law and using presidential powers in a self-serving manner.

It's important to note that these points are subject to interpretation and debate. Supporters of Trump argue that his actions were necessary to challenge a corrupt political establishment and to fulfill his promises to his base. They often view his rhetoric as a form of political bravado against entrenched interests and media bias.

The discussion around Trump's approach to governance is complex and multifaceted, reflecting broader debates about the nature of democracy, the role and power of the executive branch, as well as the future of American politics.

Accessory to Genocide in Gaza - U.S. delivers $4 billion in military aid to Israel

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United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has signed a declaration to expedite delivery of approximately $4 billion in military assistance to Israel.

In a statement, Rubio said the Trump administration, which took office on January 20, has approved nearly $12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel.

He added that the administration will continue to use all available tools to fulfill America’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security, including means to counter security threats.

The US Secretary of States said he had used emergency authority to expedite the delivery of military assistance to Israel to its Middle East ally, now in a fragile ceasefire with Hamas militants in their war in Gaza.

The Pentagon on Friday said the State Department had approved the potential sale of nearly $3 billion worth of bombs, demolition kits and other weaponry to Israel.

The administration notified Congress of those prospective weapons sales on an emergency basis.

This is sidestepping a long-standing practice of giving the chairs and ranking members of the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees the opportunity to review the sale and ask for more information before making a formal notification to Congress.

The announcements on Friday marked the second time in recent weeks that President Donald Trump’s administration has declared an emergency to quickly approve weapons sales to Israel.

NEWSPOST

Starmer rejects calls to cancel Trump’s state visit amid Ukraine row

CC™ PersPective

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday dismissed calls to cancel the offer of a state visit to U.S. President Donald Trump following his extraordinary row with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

At a meeting in Washington last week, Starmer used a combination of flattery and an invitation from the royal family for an unprecedented second state visit to try to secure a commitment from Trump for a U.S. security guarantee to protect Ukraine if a deal to end the war with Russia can be reached.

Some British politicians, including the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), have called for the offer to be withdrawn after Trump accused Zelenskyy of not being sufficiently grateful for U.S. support in Ukraine’s war.

When asked if the state visit should be canceled, the prime minister criticized politicians who, he said, were trying to deepen divisions with Washington at a time when Europe faces a moment of real fragility.

“I’m not going to be diverted by the SNP or others trying to ramp up the rhetoric without really appreciating what is the single most important thing at stake here. We’re talking about peace in Europe,” Starmer said.

NEWSPOST