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Aug 21, 2025 - World

Vice President JD Vance was featured prominently on the Russian state-controlled media Wednesday for his comments praising Russian President Vladimir Putin, comments that one critic argued he knew were false.“I have talked to (Putin) on the phone a number of times; you know, it’s interesting, he’s more soft-spoken than you would necessarily expect,” Vance told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham Wednesday evening.“You know, the American media has a particular image of him; he’s soft spoken, in a certain way. He’s very deliberate. He’s very careful, and I think fundamentally he is a person who looks out for the interests, as he sees it, of Russia.”Russia Today, an international news network funded and controlled by the Russian government, shared a clip of Vance’s interview on social media shortly following its airing, writing in a post on X how Vance described “the REAL Vladimir Putin.”Edith Olmsted, formerly of The Daily Beast and now a writer for The New Republic, however, cried foul on Vance’s characterization of Putin, writing Thursday that the vice president knew better.“Vice President JD Vance is so good at saying exactly what Moscow wants him to say that he’s earned a starring role in state propaganda,” Olmsted wrote in a piece published Thursday in The New Republic. “...Despite what Vance has claimed, Putin isn’t a gentle altruist – he’s a dictator who hopes to acquire Ukrainian territory by force – and Vance knows that.”Vance has largely mirrored his boss’ rhetoric on Putin, that being a frequent hesitancy to outright condemn the Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine. Putin is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy soon in an effort to bring about an end to the war. This follows Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy earlier this week, and his meeting with Putin last week in Alaska.Watch the video below or use this link.Vance: I have never actually met Putin. I have talked to him on the phone. More soft-spoken than you would necessarily expect. The American media has am image of him. Spot spoken. Very deliberate, very careful. I think fundamentally is he a person who looks out for the… pic.twitter.com/daLaEWLs3R— Acyn (@Acyn) August 20, 2025

Aug 21, 2025 - World

President Donald Trump's administration has published the terms of the trade deal with the European Union, but some of the promises Trump claimed were coming didn't materialize after all, according to one economics expert.University of Michigan economics and public policy professor Justin Wolfers wrote on X that after perusing the deal, he discovered Trump's promise of $600 billion being sent to the U.S. from the E.U. isn't on the list. "The most important thing is what's not there. Trump had boasted, 'They gave me $600 billion, and that’s a gift.' But guess what? They didn't. He didn't get a penny," wrote Wolfers. "Bottom line: The final text of the EU-US trade deal delivers $5,000 less to the average American household than the handshake agreement Trump boasted of on August 5.""I expect there will be soul-searching, an investigation, and recriminations, as the White House explores how its negotiators fell $600 billion short of the deal the president thought he had struck. Resignations seem likely, and a re-think of the entire deal-making apparatus," Wolfers added. The deal mapped out on July 28 promised, "The EU will purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy and make new investments of $600 billion in the United States, all by 2028." It explained, "The EU will invest $600 billion in the United States over the course of President Trump’s term. This new investment is in addition to the over $100 billion EU companies already invest in the United States every year."It appeared again toward the end of the July 28 plan: "The deal bolsters America’s economy and manufacturing capabilities. The EU will purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy and make new investments of $600 billion in the United States, all by 2028."The Aug. 21 deal changes the language significantly, shifting from a commitment to phrases like "make new investments" and "invest," and now saying things like they're "expected to invest." "In this context, European companies are expected to invest an additional $600 billion across strategic sectors in the United States through 2028," the document says, removing the firm commitment. "This investment reflects the European Union’s strong commitment to the transatlantic partnership and its recognition of the United States as the most secure and innovative destination for foreign investment," the new deal says. The deal can be read here.

Aug 21, 2025 - World

Brazilian supreme court judge sets ultimatum after police claim far-right populist sought to flee to avoid punishment over failed coupA supreme court judge has given Brazil’s ex-president, Jair Bolsonaro, 48 hours to explain police claims he was planning to flee to Argentina to avoid punishment for allegedly masterminding a failed coup after losing the 2022 election.Bolsonaro’s trial for the alleged attempt to seize power is scheduled to conclude early next month. The far-right populist faces more than four decades in prison if found guilty. Continue reading...

Aug 21, 2025 - World

President Donald Trump fired off at former President Joe Biden Thursday for his handling of the Russo-Ukraine War, alleging that Biden “would not let Ukraine fight back, only defend,” despite history saying otherwise.“Crooked and grossly incompetent Joe Biden would not let Ukraine fight back, only defend,” Trump wrote in an online post on his social media platform Truth Social. “How did that work out? Regardless, this is a war that would have never happened if I were president — zero chance. Interesting times ahead!”Trump’s allegation, however, flies in the face of years’ worth of Biden’s policy on Ukraine. While the Biden administration was initially hesitant to send Ukraine offensive weapons, those hesitations were soon caved on as Biden walked back previous positions in sending the Eastern European nation increasingly-powerful weapons like tanks, F-16 fighter jets and long-range missiles.Biden’s willingness to provide Ukraine with offensive weapons was so pronounced that even some of Trump’s most loyal allies began to criticize the administration for its provocation, such as Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).“If they don’t quit what they’re doing, they’re going to force us into a third world war,” Tuberville said back in 2023 to Alabama Daily News, speaking on Biden approving increasingly-powerful offensive weapons to be shipped to Ukraine.Nevertheless, Trump insisted that Biden had only permitted Ukraine to act defensively against Russia, and in an unclear comparison, likened the Biden policy on Ukraine to illegal immigration in the United States.“It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country,” Trump wrote. “It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense. There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia.”

Aug 21, 2025 - World

African country’s foreign ministry says the two states are working on the details of a deal over deporteesUganda has reached an agreement with the US to take in deportees from third countries who may not get asylum but are “reluctant” to go back to their own countries, according to Uganda’s foreign ministry.The country will not accept people with criminal records or unaccompanied minors under the temporary arrangement, ​​the Ugandan foreign ministry’s permanent secretary said in a statement. He did not say whether Uganda was receiving any payment or other benefits and how many deportees it would accept. Continue reading...