 "This Week in Explainers: Why has Ukraine not held elections since 2019?")
This week, Donald Trump completed a month in office. In his first 30 days, he has made some big decisions, shaking up America and the world.
Potus has defied the American Constitution, signing an order to end birthright citizenship; he has closed agencies and frozen spending. His decision to dismantle USAID has hit more than 10,000 agency employees and disrupted other American businesses and nonprofits. Beyond the US, the aid freeze has affected at least 50 countries including India.
The US president has caused an upheaval in geopolitics, most recently with his decision to hold talks with Russia to end the Ukraine war with no seat for Kyiv on the table. It has left Europe scrambling and divided. Trump has been going after Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator without elections” . While it was expected that Trump would not favour the war-hit nation, such a quick U-turn has come as a shocker.
In yet another win for Potus, his pick for FBI director Kash Patel was confirmed by the Senate . A conservative, he will be the first Indian-origin head of the country’s top law enforcement agency.
America’s crackdown on illegal immigrants continues to grab headlines. Indians, like others, have been allegedly mistreated and manhandled with some deportees finding themselves in Panama and Costa Rica .
Moving away from the US, there is growing speculation around Pope Francis’s health amid reports that he told an aide he might not survive. Germany will go to the polls today (February 23) to elect a new parliament. And in Bangladesh, students are protesting once again … this time they are up against each other.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWe talk about this and more in our weekly roundup of the world news.
1. As Trump completed one month in office the White House declared, “Long live the king!” In 30 days, Potus has taken some big decisions that have left the world nervous. From crackdown on immigration to slowly embracing Russia, we analyse the first month of Trump 2.0. Here’s a report card .
2. Donald Trump seems to flip-flopping on the Russia-Ukraine war. Potus is keen to end the conflict and with that in mind, US and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh this week. Ukraine and Europe were left out of the talks. But what did the US and Russia discuss? The takeaways explained .
3. The US, which under the Biden presidency, backed Ukraine now appears to have eswitched sides. Trump is more sympathetic toward Russia. He has been increasingly hostile toward Zelenskky, first blaming him for the war and then calling him a “dictator without elections” . But is there any truth to his claims ?
4. Would he, won’t he? There was speculation if Trump’s controversial pick for FBI director Kash Patel would be confirmed. On Thursday (February 20), the Senate voted in his favour.
A staunch Trump loyalist, Patel has vowed to rebuild the investigation agency into one that is “transparent, accountable, and committed to justice”. Here’s what we know about the FBI’s first desi director and his connection to India .
Congratulations to the new Director of the FBI, @Kash_Patel! pic.twitter.com/JsANV0s9cP
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) February 20, 2025
5. Germany holds a crucial election today (February 23). All eyes will be on the Alternative for Germany Party (AfD) and its leader Alice Weidel . She has been nominated for the candidate of chancellor. The far-right party is fielding its first candidate to lead the country. And while it is unlikely to take a share of the power, it is expected to make significant gains this election. Interestingly, it is the German Gen Z that is favouring the far-right . Here’s why.
6. Pope Francis has been in hospital for more than a week now. The 88-year-old, who has a history of lung-related ailment, has been diagnosed with double pneumonia . This came after the Vatican earlier said that he had ‘polymicrobial infection’ of his respiratory tract. The Vatican has said he was critical on Saturday. If he recovers, does the pontiff have the option to resign?
7. British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, were on the adventure of a lifetime – a world motorbiking trip. But their journey has hit a nightmarish roadblock.
The duo crossed into Iran from Armenia on 30 December and they planned to be in Pakistan on 4 January. However, they were arrested in the city of Kerman and have now been charged with spying. This is how their trip turned tragic .
That’s all from us this week. You can come back for more explainers here .
PS: If you think India alone suffers the mosquito menace, you are wrong. A town in the Philippines has announced a bounty on the bugs . They want them dead or alive.
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