Putin shows readiness to talk peace terms with Ukraine‚ setting specific pre-conditions: withdrawal from NATO plans and keeping current battle-lines (which means Russia holds onto about 18% of Ukrainian land)
We are ready for contacts and negotiations
The deal would need Ukraine to accept non-NATO status limit its armed-forces and let Russia keep most occupied areas; however Zelenskyy stays firm on not giving up any land
US special-envoy Amos Hochstein works on cooling-down Israel-Hezbollah tensions: meeting Lebanese officials and heading to Tel-Aviv for talks with Netanyahu. The plan includes re-establishing a buffer-zone in south Lebanon (which was first made back in 06)
- Israel wants to keep military options open
- Lebanese side supports UN resolution 1701
- US blocks UN vote for Gaza cease-fire
Hong Kongs democracy faces new hit as Jimmy Lai faces trial for supposed foreign collusion through his newspaper work. Just a day before court 45 pro-democracy supporters got harsh sentences up-to 10 years
Brazilian police caught military unit members who planned to kill president Lula about 2 years ago. The group (including Bolsonaros ex-aide) wanted to stop him from taking office and also targeted other officials
In a fun twist Italian village Ollolai gives Americans fast-track to buy one-dollar houses. Mayor Columbu thinks US folks can save his towns tourism: “They are our winning card“