new video loaded: Trump’s Envoy Meets With Putin on War in Ukraine
transcript
transcript
Trump’s Envoy Meets With Putin on War in Ukraine
Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, was expected to discuss with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a U.S.-backed peace proposal that was revised by American officials after recent negotiations with Ukrainian diplomats.
This morning, here in Ireland, our team delivered a full briefing following the meetings in the United States. And we are fully engaged in negotiations, and we are only stepping up our efforts. Our team is now looking ahead to next very important meetings. Today, Ukraine is closer to peace than ever before. And there is a real, real chance.
Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, was expected to discuss with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a U.S.-backed peace proposal that was revised by American officials after recent negotiations with Ukrainian diplomats.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a billion-dollar internet piracy case that could decide if internet service providers (ISPs) are liable for the digital theft perpetrated by their customers who simply refuse to pay for that new Sabrina Carpenter track.
Sony and a group of other music labels claim that Cox Communications should be held responsible for its customers repeatedly violating copyright laws. Cox, which provides internet service to 6 million homes and businesses, says if it’s found culpable, it could lead to all ISPs cutting off internet access for millions of Americans.
How we got here: In 2019, a court ruled against Cox and awarded Sony $1 billion in damages for the 10,017 songs at issue. An appeals court threw out the monetary award and ordered a new trial based on reduced violations. Cox turned to SCOTUS, arguing against the initial ruling that it had participated in “willful contributory infringement,” and saying a new trial could result in an even bigger penalty.
The arguments
The music labels assert that Cox was sent numerous notices of IP addresses violating copyright and refused to act. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, aka DMCA (shout-out to Napster), made it illegal to download and distribute copyrighted music online—but an email from a Cox manager in charge of overseeing the application of the law reads, “F the dmca!!!”
Cox argued that courts have previously said that, for contributory infringement, companies must be aware of the infractions and further the illegalities, which Cox says it never did. Per Reuters, the justices seemed skeptical of that argument.
Big Tech’s big interest:Google and X are backing Cox, with X stating that if creators can sue AI platforms when people use their technology for violating copyright laws, the company would “have no choice but to constrain their actions” to avoid potential liability.
Don’t worry, SCOTUS isn’t expected to rule until the summer, so there’s still plenty of time to add malware illegal music to your laptop.—DL
“No compromise” was reached on the crucial issue of control of Ukrainian territory to end Moscow’s war, a Russian official has said, after talks between senior US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner met Putin in the Russian capital on Tuesday, as the United States seeks to broker an end to the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War.
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The discussions lasted almost five hours and ended after midnight. “So far, we haven’t found a compromise, but some American solutions can be discussed,” said top Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, who attended the meeting.
Although Ushakov described the conversation as “very useful and constructive”, he stressed that “a lot of work lies ahead both in Washington and in Moscow”.
The US delegation had travelled to the Russian capital to discuss a peace plan, which Washington has updated since its earlier leaked 28-point draft was strongly criticised by Ukraine and its allies for favouring Russia.
The Kremlin has condemned Kyiv and Europe’s subsequent counter-proposal, with Putin repeatedly saying that it is “unacceptable” to his country.
Ahead of his meeting with the US officials, the Russian leader delivered bellicose remarks at an investment forum, where he claimed his nation was ready to fight against Europe.
“They are on the side of war,” Putin claimed, referring to Ukraine’s European allies. “We can clearly see that all these changes are aimed at only one thing: to block the entire peace process altogether, to make such demands which are absolutely unacceptable to Russia.”
The 73-year-old also said that Russia would increase attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels, as well as tankers that support Kyiv, following attacks on ships carrying Russian oil off the coast of Turkiye.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and aide Yury Ushakov meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 2, 2025 [Kristina Kormilitsyna/Sputnik via AFP]
Responding to his comments, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said it was clear that Putin did not want the war to end.
“Yesterday, he said he was prepared to fight through the winter. Today, he threatens sea ports and freedom of navigation,” Sybiha wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, on a visit to Ireland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a “dignified peace” was needed.
When asked at an event in Dublin about whether he feared the US could lose interest in the peace process, he said he feared Kyiv’s allies becoming “tired”.
“It’s the goal of Russia to withdraw the interest of America from this situation,” he explained.
For his part, Trump admitted that the negotiations were difficult.
“Our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting in Washington, DC. “Not an easy situation. What a mess,” he added, noting that the war was causing tens of thousands of casualties each month.
Witkoff and Kushner could meet a Ukrainian delegation as early as Wednesday, potentially in Brussels, a senior figure in Kyiv told the AFP news agency.
The flurry of diplomatic activity came as Russia claimed that it had seized Pokrovsk, a city of “special significance” in Ukraine’s Donbas.
Kyiv has denied the development, saying that Moscow wants to project the impression that Russia’s advance is inevitable.
Putin suggested on Tuesday that “from this base, from this sector, the Russian army can easily advance in any direction that the General Staff deems most promising”.
Moscow’s forces control more than 19 percent of Ukraine, up one percentage point from last year. Russia’s troops have advanced more quickly in 2025 than at any time since 2022, according to pro-Ukrainian maps cited by Reuters.
In the earlier leaked US peace proposal, Russian demands included a cap on the size of the Ukrainian army, control over the whole of the Donbas and recognition of Moscow’s presence in the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Kyiv has said such concessions would amount to a “capitulation”, with Zelenskyy saying that protecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains the “biggest challenge” in the ongoing negotiations.
The independent record label of Jorja Smith is demanding a share of royalties from the viral dance track I Run, which it claims was created using AI trained on the British singer’s music.
The track, credited to Haven (the project of producer Harrison Walker), went viral on TikTok in October and was on course to chart in both the UK and US before being removed from streaming services following takedown notices alleging artist impersonation.
In a statement published via Instagram, FAMM alleged that Walker “used AI to make his voice sound like Jorja’s and had used Jorja’s name (without permission) suggesting to the public that it was actually Jorja singing.”
The label claims the track was distributed through four separate distributors to circumvent usual takedown procedures, and that Haven’s team “seemed to rely on public confusion as a key part of the marketing strategy.”
FAMM revealed that Haven’s representatives approached the label after the track went viral to ask whether Smith would appear on a remix.
“They did so as they needed to legitimise the track as the public had been led to believe that they were listening to Jorja Smith’s vocals,” the statement read. “We could have cut a cheque in a backroom deal and gotten paid but we ignored the request.”
Walker and co-producer Jacob Donaghue (Waypoint) have acknowledged using AI music generator Suno to transform Walker’s vocals, claiming they prompted the software for “soulful vocal samples” without specifically referencing Smith.
A Spotify spokesperson is cited by FAMM as saying that the platform “strictly prohibits artist impersonation” and that “this track was detected and removed, and no royalties were paid out for any streams generated”.
The track has since been re-released featuring vocals from singer Kaitlin Aragon, though FAMM maintains both versions infringe on Smith’s rights “and unfairly take advantage of the work of all of the songwriters with whom she collaborates.”
The label says that it is now pursuing compensation, stating that if it successfully establishes AI was used to write the lyrics and melody, it would distribute any awarded royalties pro-rata among the songwriters who have contributed to Smith’s catalog.
“We are in uncharted territory. AI is all around us and already impacting the way we consume music. We need to talk about what that means for creatives.”
FAMM
In the lengthy Instagram statement, FAMM framed the case as a watershed moment for the music industry’s approach to AI regulation.
“We are in uncharted territory,” the statement began. “AI is all around us and already impacting the way we consume music. We need to talk about what that means for creatives.”
The label called for mandatory labelling of AI-generated content and compensation for artists whose work is used to train AI models. “AI technology is being trained on the labour and ingenuity of the very same creators it intends to replace without any due credit or compensation,” it stated.
FAMM’s statement also referenced recent comments made by Victoria Monét, who spoke toVanity Fair about the AI artist Xania Monét. The Grammy-winning singer acknowledged she couldn’t definitively say the AI was trained on her music, but noted the resemblance felt “uncanny.”
“It’s hard to comprehend that, within a prompt, my name was not used for this artist to capitalise on,” Monét said.
The re-released version of “I Run”, now featuring Aragon’s vocals, entered the UK Top 40 last week. The original version had been withheld from both the Official Charts Company in the UK and Billboard in the US amid the ongoing dispute.
FAMM concluded: “I Run seems to be a clear example of why we all need to step up and push for some guardrails before the moment is completely lost.”
A diamond-studded crystal Fabergé egg that once belonged to Russia’s imperial family has sold for a record £22.9m ($30.2m) in London.
The Winter Egg – considered one of the legendary jeweller’s most beautiful creations – was bought by an anonymous bidder on Tuesday, Christie’s auction house said.
It is decorated with 4,500 diamonds was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II in 1913 as a present to his mother.
The previous record for a Fabergé egg was £8.9m paid at auction in 2007.
“Today’s result sets a new world auction record for a work by Fabergé, reaffirming the enduring significance of this masterpiece,” Christie’s Margo Oganesian was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
The 8.2cm high (3.2in) egg was created by Carl Fabergé, based on the design of Alma Theresia Pihl, one of only two female workmasters at St Petersburg’s jewellery company.
It was carved from rock crystal and decorated with rose-cut diamonds, as well as platinum snowflake motifs.
The egg opens up to reveal a tiny basket of white quartz flowers inside.
The Fabergé house only ever made 50 eggs for Russia’s imperial Romanov family, and the Imperial Winter Egg is one of just seven left in private hands.
The others are either missing or owned by institutions or museums.
The eggs were made from 1885 until Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate in 1917.
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new video loaded: Pope Leo XIV Delivers Message of Peace in Lebanon
transcript
transcript
Pope Leo XIV Delivers Message of Peace in Lebanon
The pope ended his first international tour presiding over a waterfront mass to thousands at the site of a 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed hundreds.
The Middle East needs new approaches in order to reject the mindset of revenge and violence, to overcome political, social and religious divisions, and to open new chapters in the name of reconciliation and peace. From this square, I pray for the Middle East and all peoples who suffer because of war.
The pope ended his first international tour presiding over a waterfront mass to thousands at the site of a 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed hundreds.
Their first encounter saw Eubank emerge with a unanimous decision victory in April, despite the fact that he was forced to keep below a 170lb rehydration limit.
Again, the Brighton man was subjected to the same rehydration clause in their return fight last month, before losing to his rival by a considerably wide margin on the scorecards.
Eubank, who was previously known for his remarkable durability, even suffered two knockdowns in the final round of their one-sided contest.
Eubank has, after all, mentioned on multiple occasions that, following his first fight with Benn, he was rushed off to hospital with severe dehydration.
Naturally, the rehydration clause did not make matters any easier for the former world title challenger, who competed at super-middleweight for around two years before moving back down to 160lbs in 2019.
But while his body is seemingly no longer designed to meet the middleweight limit, Eubank has now suggested that his performance in November can, in part, be explained by “a lot of health issues.”
Taking to social media earlier today, Eubank posted a video of himself receiving medical treatment, while also adding some context to the situation.
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of health issues over the last year [and] yeah, it all finally caught up to me last month.
“I will not box again until I’m back to 100% [and] I don’t know when that will be, but one thing’s for certain… For the fans that have supported me through thick [and] thin, I will do everything in my power to make sure that one day, the old me makes a big comeback.”
Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian teenagers in separate incidents in Hebron and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli army said 17-year-old Muhannad al-Zughair was shot dead in the Abu Daajan area of Hebron after what it claimed was a ramming attack that injured two soldiers.
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Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah, said, “We do not know whether that attack occurred because no investigation has been launched.”
“The teenager was injured and fled towards Hebron. He was later found and killed inside a car. The body is now being withheld by Israeli forces in what is now standard operating procedure.”
Meanwhile, in the north of Ramallah, 18-year-old Muhammad Asmar was killed near the village of Umm Safa. Odeh added that the alleged assailant was “held by soldiers and was then shot while on the ground and left to bleed for hours”.
In a statement, the Israeli army said it had killed a Palestinian who “had begun to stab soldiers near the settlement”. According to the Magen David Adom ambulance service, two Israelis were lightly wounded.
Hamas praised what it called a “heroic stabbing operation”, saying the attack “is a natural response to the crimes of the [Israeli] occupation, and a clear message that its attempts to break the will of our people through military operations, daily killings, arrests, and field executions will not succeed”.
Across the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have continued to carry out raids. Troops stormed the vicinity of three hospitals in Hebron and demolished two apartments in al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem.
Israeli settlers also attacked Burqa village northwest of Nablus, setting fire to a tractor and attempting to torch a vehicle, while others sprayed graffiti on a home.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law. The International Court of Justice reaffirmed last year that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and must end.
Journalist killed in Gaza drone strike
Meanwhile, Israel has continued its attacks in Gaza, where an Israeli drone strike in central Khan Younis killed Palestinian photojournalist Mahmoud Wadi.
The Wafa news agency reported that journalist Muhammad Abdel Fattah Aslih was also wounded in the same attack.
Aslih is the brother of Hassan Aslih, a photographer killed in a drone strike on Nasser Hospital in May.
A video posted on Instagram and verified by Al Jazeera shows Wadi’s body with a press vest laid on top, surrounded by mourners.
More than 260 media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists on record.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 70,100 Palestinians and wounded 170,965 since October 2023. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.
Israel has continued to attack Gaza despite a ceasefire, which began on October 10. More than 356 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks during that period.
Health system on the brink
The Israeli prime minister’s office said authorities have received “findings” from Gaza that could be the remains of two captives whose bodies have not yet been returned.
The office said the material was transferred via the Red Cross and would be received in a military ceremony before being taken to Israel’s forensic medicine centre for identification.
Hamas had agreed to return the bodies of captives as part of the ceasefire agreement, but has said that widespread destruction across Gaza has made recovery efforts difficult.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers in Gaza say they face critical shortages of medicines and equipment. The UN has described the situation as “catastrophic”.
Less than half of Gaza’s hospitals, and just over a third of its clinics, are functioning at minimal capacity.
Al-Ahli Hospital is treating more than three times the patients it was built for, while al-Shifa, Nasser and al-Rantisi hospitals are also overwhelmed. More than half of essential medicines and two-thirds of medical supplies are out of stock, the UN has said.
Monitoring groups say Israeli forces have killed about 1,000 healthcare workers since the war began. At least 25 medical staff from Gaza are being held in Israeli prisons without charge.
