Can Donald Trump adapt to a listening role? - Could Donald Trump adopt the role of a listener?
In a meeting that was billed as a "listening session" for Donald Trump, the 2025 Russia–United States Summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, failed to produce an announced agreement on the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The meeting, which marked Putin's first visit to a Western country since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, continued the challenging diplomatic dynamics between the two leaders rather than signifying a breakthrough that would require enhanced listening or compromise from Trump.
During the meeting, Trump expressed his confidence in his ability to help end the war and expressed hope for a ceasefire. However, no concrete agreement resulted, indicating limited progress in mutual understanding or concessions. This outcome is consistent with Trump and Putin's past interactions, which have often been marked by Trump's attempts to emphasize negotiation and personal rapport, sometimes drawing criticism for appearing overly accommodating to Putin without securing firm concessions.
The focus of the meeting was the Russian attack on Ukraine, and Trump was expected to exercise self-control during the meeting, given Putin's lengthy explanations about perceived injustices from the USA. However, it appears that Trump did not demonstrate markedly improved listening skills during the meeting.
Meanwhile, Southern Europe is experiencing a heatwave and wildfires, causing problems and loss of life. The heatwave is being attributed to a heat dome by meteorologist Akshay Deoras from the University of Reading. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change will further exacerbate extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and floods.
On a different note, a study led by Valentina Mazzoli has shown that a slight adjustment in gait can slow the progression of arthritis. The method, which involves adjusting foot position during walking, can reduce the load on the knees and have positive effects on pain perception. Participants who corrected their foot position reported a reduction in pain by 2.5 points on a ten-point scale, an effect equivalent to over-the-counter pain relievers. In those who corrected their foot position, the cartilage breakdown on the inner side of the knee was slowed down.
In other news, a U.S. government report has criticized Germany's lack of freedom of speech. Al Jazeera has corrected the number of employees killed in Gaza. These developments highlight the ongoing complexities and challenges in international relations and internal governance.
[1] The New York Times [2] The Washington Post [3] BBC News [5] The Guardian
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- Europe endures a sweltering heatwave, amplifying the risk of wildfires in France.
