World
Trump speaks to Putin, warns against escalating war in Ukraine
US President-elect Donald Trump spoke to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and urged him not to escalate the war in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
Trump held the call from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Thursday, just days after his stunning election victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris, the report said.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, did not confirm the exchange, telling AFP in a written statement that “we do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”
The Post, citing several people familiar with the call who spoke on the basis of anonymity, reported that Trump had reminded Putin of America’s sizable military presence in Europe.
They said he also expressed an interest in further conversations to discuss “the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon.”
Trump also spoke by phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday and the pair “agreed to work together towards a return to peace in Europe,” according to Scholz’s spokesman.
Trump’s election is set to have a major bearing on the almost three-year Ukraine conflict, as he insists on a quick end to the fighting and casts doubt on Washington’s multi-billion dollar support for Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump on Wednesday, with the Republican’s billionaire backer Elon Musk also notably joining them on the call.
The outgoing Democratic administration of President Joe Biden has confirmed that it will send as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
On Sunday, Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the White House aims “to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield so that it is ultimately in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table.”
This would include using the remaining $6 billion of funding for Ukraine available, Sullivan said.
The Russian government has given a cautious but mostly positive response to Trump’s return, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Sunday: “The signals are positive… At least he’s talking about peace, and not about confrontation.”
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to quickly end the Ukraine war — even before he is sworn into office — but without detailing his thinking.
Trump and his allies have railed against US funding for Ukraine, while insinuating that it helps fund a corrupt pro-war nexus of defense companies and foreign policy hawks.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., shared a clip Saturday on Instagram which showed Zelensky standing next to the president-elect with a caption reading: “POV (point of view): You’re 38 days from losing your allowance.”
Any quick deal in Ukraine is expected to require Kyiv to cede some of the territory it has lost to Russian invaders in Ukraine’s south and east.
A former adviser to Trump, Bryan Lanza, told the BBC on Saturday that Ukraine had to give up any ambition of regaining Crimea, for instance, which was occupied by Russia in 2014.
Kyiv, though facing a manpower shortage and uncertainty over US support, has steadfastly opposed giving up territory and its European allies and weapons suppliers such as Britain and France are known to be nervous about unilateral moves by Trump.
Zelensky has said that giving up land or meeting other demands from the Kremlin would only embolden Putin and provoke more aggression, a view shared by many European allies.
Trump “briefly raised the issue of land” in his call with Putin, the Post reported, without further details.
In recent months, both sides in the war have made moves seen as possible efforts to gain leverage ahead of eventual negotiations, with Ukraine seizing a chunk of Russian territory and Moscow’s troops making advances in Ukraine.
This weekend brought the biggest drone attacks yet from both sides.
Russia launched 145 drones at Ukraine overnight, Zelensky said, while Russia said it had downed 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow on Sunday.
Education
Canada now permits international students to work 24 hours
Canada has increased the permissible work hours for eligible international students during academic terms from 20 to 24 hours per week.
This adjustment aims to provide greater opportunities for students to gain work experience while maintaining their focus on academics.
Marc Miller, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister, stressed the intent behind this policy change, saying, “This change will give students more flexibility to manage their time and gain practical experience.”
The decision builds on remarks Miller made in October 2022 when he emphasized the importance of work experience for international students.
At the time, he stated: “With the economy growing at a faster rate than employers can hire new workers, Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and workforce needed to fuel our growth.
“Immigration will be crucial to addressing our labour shortage. By allowing international students to work more while they study, we can help ease pressing needs in many sectors across the country, while providing more opportunities for international students to gain valuable Canadian work experience and continue contributing to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity.”
Key Changes to the International Student Program
Full-Time Work During Academic Breaks
International students can now work full-time during designated academic breaks, such as summer and winter holidays. These periods allow students to increase their earnings without interfering with class schedules, bolstering their financial stability while continuing their education.
The updated regulations permit students to work up to 24 hours per week during academic terms. This increase offers greater employment opportunities while ensuring students can maintain a sustainable study schedule.
Enhanced Reporting by Institutions
Designated Educational Institutions (DLIs) are now required to submit reports twice yearly to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These reports will confirm students’ enrollment status and academic progress, ensuring compliance with study permit requirements and upholding the integrity of the International Student Program.
Approval for Institution Transfers
Under the new rules, international students must obtain approval before transferring to a different DLI. This requirement ensures adherence to permit conditions and maintains academic standards across Canada’s institutions.
Special Provisions for Quebec Students
In Quebec, eligible international students can work off-campus without a separate work permit, provided they meet specific criteria. Students must be enrolled full-time in post-secondary, vocational, or professional training programs, or vocational training at the secondary level. These courses must be at least six months long and lead to a recognized degree, diploma, or certificate.
By introducing these measures, Canada aims to enhance opportunities for international students while addressing labour shortages in key sectors, ensuring a balance between work experience and academic success.
World
Trump appoints Elon Musk to lead department of government efficiency
US President-Elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk, chief executive officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX, to lead a soon-to-be-established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk, owner of X, the microblogging platform previously known as Twitter, was an avid supporter of Trump during the electioneering leading up to the November 5 presidential election.
The former president defeated Vice-President Kamala Harris after securing more than 270 of the electoral college votes required to win the poll.
A statement on Tuesday said Musk would run DOGE alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, a politician and entrepreneur.
It said the duo “will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies Essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement’.
“I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans,” the statement quoted the president-elect as saying.
“Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending.”
Trump will take office for a second and final term on January 25, 2025.
World
French newspapers sue X for using content without paying
Major French news organisations say they are suing X, a micro-blogging platform, for allegedly using their content without paying.
According to Reuters, the newspapers, which are Le Monde, Le Figaro and Le Parisien, announced in a statement on Tuesday.
The media platforms said they were due payment under their ancillary rights, which allow payment to news outlets by digital platforms, for the distribution of their content.
They said X, formerly known as Twitter, and owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has never agreed to open negotiations with French news publishers, unlike Alphabet Inc, Google and Meta Platforms Inc.
The publication also said the media organisations claimed that X has not complied with an order issued by the Paris Court of Justice in May to release information required to calculate the amount owed.
“The revenue from these rights, with the investment that it would enable its beneficiaries to make, is a boost to the plurality, independence and quality of the media, which are essential for freedom of expression and the right to information in our democratic society,” the newspapers said.
A spokesperson for the Paris tribunal also confirmed the case to Reuters and said a hearing has been scheduled for May 15, 2025.
-
Politics7 days ago
Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards
-
Business1 week ago
No November salary for workers without valid residents registration number, says Kwara state government
-
Politics5 days ago
DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber
-
News4 days ago
Nnamdi Emeh: Suspect Facing Charges In Court, Process Independent Of Police Influence
-
News5 days ago
Alice Loksha, abducted UNICEF nurse, escapes captivity after 6 years
-
Celebrities5 days ago
Daddy Freeze, Akah Nnani clash over Emmanuel Iren
-
World1 week ago
French newspapers sue X for using content without paying
-
World1 week ago
Trump appoints Elon Musk to lead department of government efficiency