After the diplomat publicly questioned the understanding of World War II’s suffocation, New Zealand fired its ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Following his remarks made during a panel discussion in London, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ office declared on Thursday that Phil Goff’s position as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was “untenable.”
Goff’s return home was discussed with the New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which had no further comments.
Goff compared Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine to the 1938 Munich Agreement, which gave Nazi Germany the authority to annex parts of Czechoslovakia, at a Chatham House event on Wednesday attended by Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.
After the Munich Agreement, Churchill addressed Chamberlain in 1938, telling him, “You had the choice between war or dishonour.” During a Q&, A session with former UK Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain, Goff remarked, “You chose dishonour, yet you will have war.”
“President Trump has reinstated Churchill’s bust in the Oval Office.” But do you believe he actually comprehends the past?
Valtonen claimed Churchill had made numerous “timeless remarks” and had resisted responding directly to Goff’s question.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark criticized the justification for Goff’s ouster as a “very thin excuse” in a post on X.
When she attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany last month, Clark, who led New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, claimed she had heard many people use similar analogies.
Later on Thursday, Peters claimed he had made a necessary but “seriously disappointing” decision.
No matter what the country is, whether it’s Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, or, dare I say it, the United States, Peters said, “we can’t have people making comments that impinge on our very future,” he said.
When you are in that position, you represent the current government and its policies. You are unable to think freely. You represent New Zealand, he continued.
Goff did not respond to an X account comment request right away.
A Russian court has sentenced a British man who was kidnapped by Russia while fighting for Ukraine to 19 years in prison.
After a three-day closed military trial in Kursk, James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was found guilty of “mercenary activities” and a “terrorist act,” according to the court press service for the area on Wednesday.
Anderson, who allegedly participated in Ukraine’s cross-border offensive in Kursk in November, entered a guilty plea, according to the press service.
According to the press release, Anderson will spend five years in prison before being transferred to a penal colony to serve the rest of his sentence.
Anderson nodded incessantly after the court’s videotape translated the decision for him.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom criticized Anderson’s sentence for making false allegations.
Prisoners of war cannot be tried for engaging in hostilities, according to a spokesperson.
We demand that Russia abide by these obligations, including those imposed by the Geneva Conventions, and that it stop using prisoners of war for propaganda and political purposes.
Two British citizens and a Moroccan were given the death penalty in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in 2022 for engaging in “terrorist” activities and serving as foreign mercenaries.
The three men were later freed as part of a Saudi Arabian prisoner-exchange.
As Canada attempts to defuse a growing trade war, US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetorical conflict with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trump accessed Truth Social on Wednesday to share his version of a meeting he had with Trudeau during lunch.
Without providing any specifics, Trump said, “The call ended in a “middle-of-a friendly manner.”
However, the Republican leader did accuse Trudeau of not doing enough to combat fentanyl trafficking, which experts believe poses only minor security along the Canadian border.
Trump has openly questioned Trudeau’s influence on the upcoming federal elections in Canada, as he has done with other world leaders. He also has attempted to question the legitimacy of his government.
Justin Trudeau, the president’s slender face, is captured by President Donald Trump on February 13, 2017.
Tariff pressure
The US’s two largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, as well as its neighbors, have been the subject of high-level negotiations, which come one day after Trump imposed 25-percent tariffs on products from both of its neighbors, the US.
The two nations had been accustom to those high tariffs for some time.
Trump made the announcement shortly after taking office in November that he would use the 25% tariffs to impose a tighter border between Canada and Mexico.
He also mentioned that Canada could renounce its country’s sovereignty and acquiesce to the US’s 51st state by avoiding such exorbitant tariffs.
Trump set a date for the beginning of February as soon as they take office on January 20. However, both Canada and Mexico made compromises that allowed the tariffs to be delayed to prevent the anticipated economic harms.
For Mexico, that meant deploying 10, 000 National Guard personnel to the US border. The compromise also included the creation of a “fentanyl tsar” and a task force to combat drug trafficking for Canada.
The delay ended on Tuesday, and now the US tariffs are in effect.
The nascent trade war’s opening salvoes were immediately followed by Canada and Mexico with their own retaliatory tariffs.
We are polite and Canadians are reasonable. However, we won’t back down in a fight. Not when our nation’s well-being and that of everyone in it are at stake,” Trudeau said on Tuesday.
He warned that a trade standoff would harm all three countries’ economies.
The “big three” US automakers, Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors, successfully petitioned Trump for a one-month exemption from the tariffs on Wednesday, causing a number of industries to be rattled by the hefty import duties already.
Canada has meanwhile filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization about the high tariffs and has vowed to end the trade dispute with the Trump administration.
The tariffs are in contravention of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was signed into force during Trump’s first term, according to it.
Concentrate on fentanyl
Trump cited fentanyl as the main issue in the tariff negotiations in his Truth Social post on Wednesday.
What could be done about tariffs, Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me. Nothing has persuaded me that Fentanyl has stopped, as I told him, and it had already killed so many people who crossed the border between Canada and Mexico, Trump wrote.
He claimed that the quality had improved, but I responded, “That’s not good enough.”
Given the relatively small amounts of fentanyl that enter the US from the north, experts have questioned whether the focus on fentanyl at the Canadian border is misplaced.
The tariffs have been referred to as “unjustified” by Canada itself. It has pointed out that less than 1% of fentanyl is seized along the US’s shared border, according to the US government’s own statistics.
Only about 19.5 kilogrammes (43 pounds) were sequestered at the nation’s northern border for the fiscal year 2024, according to the US Customs and Border Protection website.
More than 9, 934 kg (21, 900 pounds) were seized in the US that year, out of a total of more than 9, 934 kg (21, 900 pounds).
Trump criticized Trudeau on Wednesday for “Weak Border Policies,” which are “responsible for the death of many people.”
And his administration defended its tariffs by defending itself against accusations that it had invented a problem.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt yelled at a reporter at a news briefing on Wednesday, citing how much fentanyl imported from Canada could fit into a “carry-on suitcase.”
You’re asking me what the president’s justification for these tariffs is. You decide not, of course. Leavitt responded, “You’re not the president.” “Frankly, I think it’s a little disrespectful to the families who have lost loved ones as a result of this deadly poison,” the author said.
Justin Trudeau and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, speak on March 2 [Photo by AP Photo]
contesting the elections in Canada
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s finance minister, stated on Tuesday that he and his US counterpart, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have been negotiating ways to avoid the tariffs and that he has been speaking with him on the CBC television program The National.
LeBlanc argued, however, that the only solution would be to have the tariffs completely eliminated. He demanded that the US “return to adhering to the free trade agreement.”
LeBlanc stated, “We don’t want to see a tariff reduction in any way.” Once the tariffs are lifted, we want the United States and Mexico’s free trade agreement to be respected, and we’ll work with the US government on issues.
He continued, “This is not going to go down the tariffs or meeting someone halfway.” We want to prevent tariffs on Canadian goods and services from entering the country.
Trump has, however, used the tariffs as a means of compulsion to ally himself with the US and abandon Canada.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to expand US territory abroad during his second term, including by “reclaiming” the Panama Canal, a claim he made in a joint statement to the US Congress on Tuesday.
Trump once more referred to Trudeau as a “governor,” a term used by US presidents on Wednesday.
He also made an attempt to make people question whether Trudeau’s position of power was legitimate by proposing conspiratorially in relation to the upcoming federal elections in Canada.
Trump wrote of Trudeau, “He was unable to tell me when the Canadian election is taking place, which piqued my interest.” What’s happening here, exactly? Then I realized that he is attempting to maintain power through this problem. Good luck, Justin”!
Trump has a history of questioning the legitimacy of other leaders. He referred to another elected official, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a “dictator” in February because he allegedly rigged election results during the war. Russia is currently preventing a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However, Trump’s attempts to demonize Trudeau may have had the opposite effect.
After years of trailing the Conservative Party of Canada in the polls, Trudeau’s Liberal Party resurrected popular support, which some experts attribute in part to a backlash against Trump.
On March 9, Trudeau will resign as leader of the Liberal Party after winning his replacement.
As part of a demand to release all Israeli prisoners in the area, US President Donald Trump has threatened Hamas and the people of Gaza.
Trump reiterated his warning that if the captives aren’t released in a social media post on Wednesday.
Your final warning, please! Now is the best time to leave Gaza, according to Trump, for the leadership, while they still have a chance.
Additionally, to the people of Gaza, “A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages.” You are DEAD if you do! Make a “SMART” choice.
The White House confirmed that Washington and Hamas were speaking to each other shortly after the president made the comment.
Trump has vowed to force the US to “own” the Palestinian territory and for the displacement of Gaza’s entire population.
How the “beautiful future” Trump promised to the people of Gaza fit into his ethnic cleansing strategy is unclear. Prior to this, Trump claimed that Palestinians would not be able to reclaim the area under his proposal.
“Shalom Hamas” means “Hello and Goodbye – You can choose.” If you don’t release all of the hostages right away, or wait until afterward, return all of the bodies of the victims, or you’ll be done,” Trump wrote.
You are sick and twisted, and only the sick and twisted keep bodies, only the sick and twisted keep it! Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t act as I command because I will give Israel everything it needs to finish the job.
Over the years, Israel has used the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians as a bargaining chip through necroviolence.
Trump has previously made similar threats, but Hamas has vowed to release the prisoners only as a result of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel has resisted moving forward to the next phase of the ceasefire, which would result in the end of the conflict and the release of all captives. The first phase of the deal came to an end last week.
Instead, Netanyahu’s government, which has support from Trump, has attempted to extend the first phase to free more prisoners without a commitment to a lasting ceasefire.
Israel has also blocked any humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, and medicine, entering Gaza, which has sparked outcry from the United Nations and other nations.
Barcelona defeated Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League last-16 first-leg victory despite the Catalan giants having 10 players in the majority of the match. Raphinha scored the only goal of the match.
Pau Cubarsi, 18, was sent off midway through the first half of the scoreless, goalless game in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Before the second leg of the match on Tuesday, Raphinha scored after 61 minutes to give Barcelona’s five-time winners a slim lead over Bruno Lage’s side.
After drawing in a match that many people believe is favorable, Barcelona are expected to win the competition again this year.
On a contented evening in the Portuguese capital, Hansi Flick reaffirmed that there was no such thing as an “easy” Champions League tie before the match.
After his team won, the German coach declared, “I’m very proud.”
In the final minute of the match, Barca were pinned back after Wojciech Szczesny made amends after making two high-profile saves against Benfica in the league stage in January.
After a few seconds, Szczesny made a wise save to deny Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu, and the opening act showed that both teams were returning from Barcelona’s wild 5-4 victory in Lisbon.
“The last time, I don’t think [Szczesny] left here very happy,” said Barca midfielder Pedri.
He “save a lot” [tonight], one where you start the game off poorly if they score; between the sticks, he’s a big presence and it’s great to have him.
Before Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin made a stunning triple save to keep the score level, Dani Olmo fired narrowly wide as Barca threatened.
The Ukrainian mopped up Lamine Yamal’s attempt from the rebound and then parried Dani Olmo’s prodded effort before making a brilliant stop to thwart Robert Lewandowski’s conversion from point blank range.
After 22 minutes, Cubarsi, 18, was sent off for Barcelona.
Vangelis Pavlidis, who had scored a hat-trick in the group game, was scythed down by the Spaniard as he ran through on goal.
Pavlidis is immediately knocked down by Cubarsi inside the box, receiving a straight red [Filipe Amorim/AFP]
Szczesny saved Ronald Araujo’s free kick from Orkun Kokcu, who was then replaced by Olmo Flick for the defender.
After Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a severe knee injury in September, Barcelona released the Polish goalkeeper, who also performed well in a save to prevent Akturkoglu’s header before the break.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Flick’s Barca performed as good as they could at the Estadio da Luz.
Before Raphinha broke the deadlock, Szczesny succeeded in stopping Pavlidis and preventing Benfica from spreading.
After Flick and Ferran Torres replaced Yamal early in the second half, Raphinha stepped up to win the ball back high up and wallop a low, deflected effort home from distance.
The forward had the best career of his career in his ninth Champions League goal in nine games.
In the final stages, Benfica attempted to level the playing field, but Barcelona frantically defended.
When Szczesny felled Andrea Belotti, the hosts believed they had won a penalty, but a mistake occurred during the build-up, and Barcelona stayed in control.
“We already knew how to defend,” Pedri continued. We were prepared to defend as a block, capitalize on our opportunities with the players we had up front, and stay together at the back after the red.
In another Champions League semifinal match, Bayern Munich defeated bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to defeat Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga rivals. Liverpool remained top all night thanks to Harvey Elliott’s late goal, which gave them a 1-0 victory at Paris Saint-Germain.
