TOP NEWS

Russian invasion  The world's response
Putin and Trump have spoken on the phone: "Friendly"

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have held a 90-minute "friendly and businesslike" phone call on Wednesday, Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov said, according to Reuters.

Trump confirms the call and says it was "very good".

Ukraine and Iran were among the topics discussed. Putin proposed a ceasefire in Ukraine in connection with Victory Day on May 9, according to Ushakov. Trump says it was his own proposal.

Putin is said to have made proposals to end the Iran war, and Trump is said to have said that he believes a solution to the Ukraine war is close. No details are given.

Middle East Crisis  Iran War
Controversial as Hegseth is questioned about Iran in Congress

The atmosphere in the US House of Representatives was heated when the Defense Committee questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Iran War on Wednesday, several media outlets report.

Democratic member John Garamendi came down hard on Hegseth. He accused the administration of having lied about the war's goals and strategy from day one, and said that their "astonishing incompetence" had led to a "political and economic disaster on every level".

Hegseth, in turn, accused Garamendi of spreading propaganda for the enemy.

- You should know better. Shame on you. [...] Your hatred of President Trump is blinding you, said the minister.

Hegseth says that the US has had "tremendous military successes" in the war and that the goal is to get Iran to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Pentagon Chief of Staff Jules Hurst also gave his latest estimate of the cost of the Iran war so far: $25 billion, equivalent to SEK 232 billion.

Trump's USA  Indicted Trump Critics
Comey Surrendered – Appeared in Court

Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to police on Wednesday, CNN reports. After appearing before a judge for less than ten minutes, he was released on bail again.

Comey is charged with making death threats against President Trump after last year posting a picture of seashells forming the numbers "86 47." 86 is American slang for getting rid of something, and Trump is the 47th president.

Comey, who quickly deleted the picture, claims that he found the shell formation on a boardwalk and did not know any such meaning.

– I see 86 as a mafia term, Trump said on Wednesday.

Comey's lawyers say they intend to file a complaint with the Justice Department about the "selective and vindictive" indictment.

Greenland crisis  US threats
US envoy invites himself to Greenland meeting

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, whom Donald Trump has appointed as special envoy for Greenland, will attend the Future Greenland economic conference in Nuuk on May 19-20. This is reported by Sermitsiaq.

However, the organizers emphasize that he has not been formally invited.

- The conference has always been open, and anyone can buy a guest ticket. That is what Landry has done. He is not part of our formal program, says Christian Keldsen, CEO of the Greenland employers' organization Grønlands Erhverv.

Defense experts Sermitsiaq spoke to say that Landry has an explicit mandate from President Trump to make Greenland part of the United States, and that everything he does should be seen in light of that.
 

Climate threat  Global challenges
No results at major climate meeting: “Disappointed”

60 countries that want to lead the way in climate change and phase out fossil fuels have gathered in Colombia – but so far they have not agreed on how to do it, writes TT.

– I am disappointed that they are not making greater commitments, says EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner (C) who is in attendance.

The meeting is outside the UN's annual COP meetings, which require consensus, and the organizers' expectations have been set low.

However, it is seen as an opportunity for countries to learn from each other, and France took the opportunity to show off its plan to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. Among other things, it means that two out of three new cars will be electric by 2030.