Reporters ask questions of world leaders all the time.

It’s not a big deal. Correct?

But how is it to ask questions of Vladimir Putin – the president who ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leader whose country was this week accused of “exporting chaos” by the head of MI6?

Imagine posing that question live on TV in front of millions of Russian viewers.

This is a big responsibility. You would rather not mess up.

“My question is about the future of Russia. What kind of future are you planning for your country and your people?” I ask President Putin.

“Will the future resemble the present if any public objection to the official line is punishable by law?” Will the hunt for enemies at home and abroad intensify? Will mobile Internet outages become even more common? Will there be new ‘special military operations’?”

While I speak, Vladimir Putin is taking notes. And then they answer.

He defends Russia’s repressive foreign agent laws. Hundreds of Russians who are critical of the authorities have been designated “foreign agents.”

“We didn’t invent it,” Putin told me.

The term “foreign agent” was adopted in many Western countries, including the US, in the 1930s. And all these laws, including the American law, are much more strict…”

In fact, Russian law is harsh. It excludes “foreign agents” from many aspects of public life, including teaching, civil services, elections, and public events. It imposes financial and property restrictions. A single administrative fine may be followed by criminal prosecution.

I am unable to convey this to President Putin.

However, I am unable to convey this to President Putin. After I finished my question, the microphone was taken away from me.

Suddenly the moderator intervenes to change the topic.

Anchor Pavel Zarubin says, “Here’s another question: ‘What’s going to happen to the BBC? It’s facing a billion-dollar lawsuit from the US president?’

“I think President Trump is right,” President Putin confirmed.

The Kremlin and the White House are seen facing off…on BBC.

Putin Back to my question.

“Will there be any new special military operations? There will not be if you treat us respectfully and respect our interests, as we have always tried to do with you. Unless you betray us, as you did with NATO’s eastward expansion.”

It is visible for all to see what is driving Vladimir Putin – a deep resentment of the West.

He argues that, for years, Western leaders have insulted, deceived and lied to Russia – and they are lying still further by claiming that Moscow intends to attack Europe. “What kind of nonsense is that?” The Kremlin leader announces.

But many European leaders do not trust Moscow at all.

In the run-up to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials denied that they had plans for a large-scale attack.

Recently Russia has been accused of violating European airspace with fighter planes and drones, as well as carrying out cyber attacks and sabotage actions.

But as he finished answering my question, was this an olive branch to Europe from the President of Russia?

“We are ready to immediately end hostilities, provided that Russia’s medium- and long-term security is ensured, and we are ready to cooperate with you.”

However, if Moscow continues to link its long-term security to its maximalist demands on Ukraine, European leaders will remain sceptical.

Washington’s iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts will be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center” after President Donald Trump, the White House announced Thursday.

The extraordinary naming of a major cultural venue after a living president is the latest attempt by the 79-year-old Republican to stamp his identity on the US capital in his second term.

He has also demolished the White House East Wing to install a grand ballroom and is looking to build a larger triumphal arch.

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said the Kennedy Center’s board—which was split from Democrats before Trump installed himself as chair earlier this year—had “voted unanimously” for the change.

He said, “It’s because of the incredible job that President Trump has done over the last year to save the building. This is not only about rebuilding the building, but also about its financial stability and reputation.

congratulations to President Kennedy,

He said, “Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because the pair will be a truly great team in the future! The building will undoubtedly achieve new levels of success and grandeur.”

The huge white monument is named after President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The centre, which is located on the banks of the Potomac River, opened in 1971.

Trump has made several references to renaming the centre in recent months.

Earlier this month at the inauguration of a peace institute also named after him, Trump referred to it as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” before adding, “Oops, sorry.”

During his first term, billionaire Trump never attended the annual fundraising gala for recipients of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honours, as many of the artists among them vocally opposed his policies.

This time, Trump moved quickly to make the centre his own, ridding its board of trustees of Democratic appointees and ousting its president as part of a broader attack on federally funded cultural institutions he deemed too “woke”.

Trump then presented the honours himself this year, giving awards to “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, disco legend Gloria Gaynor and rock band KISS.

A few days earlier, at the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on December 5, Trump received a new peace award from football’s governing body and gave a speech on stage.

ukrinform/nurfoto

Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP

Supporters of lending money to Ukraine believe that doing so will help deter Putin from continuing the war.

EPA

A former NASCAR driver is suspected to be one of seven people killed in a plane crash at a regional airport in North Carolina, an official says.

A Highway Patrol spokesman said people on the ground confirmed that racer Greg Biffle was among those on board the plane.

Officials investigating the incident told reporters that the Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport at about 10:20 local time (15:20 GMT).

“Heartbreaking news from Statesville,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on Twitter.

The BBC’s US partner CBS reported that the Cessna C550 plane was owned by a private company linked to retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

Mitchell Garrett, a professional baseball player, posted on Facebook that he planned to spend the afternoon with Biffle and his family.

“Unfortunately, I can confirm that Greg Biffle, his wife Christina, his daughter Emma, and his son Ryder were on that plane, as they were going to spend the afternoon with us,” he wrote on Facebook. “We are devastated. I’m devastated to share this.”

Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the plane as a corporate jet and said it was already in flames when he arrived at the scene.

The business jet took off at about 10:06 pm local time and was in the air for some time before the crash.

It crashed at the eastern end of the runway and officials are not yet aware of the cause.

Mr Ferguson told reporters the Statesville airport would remain closed until further notice as crews cleared debris from the runway.

Officials did not provide any information about the deaths or the people on board the plane during the media conference.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, said it is launching a GO team to investigate the fatal crash. The team is anticipated to arrive at the scene on Thursday night.

The city of Statesville owns Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH), situated approximately 45 minutes north of Charlotte.

It also provides aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR racing teams.

Biffle, whose racing career spanned two decades, was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. The 55-year-old won 19 Cup Series races in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

NASCAR Winter Heat Series.

The Vancouver, Washington, native, known as The Biff, received national notice in 1995 when racing during that year’s NASCAR Winter Heat Series, according to his NASCAR profile.

He made a name for himself in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning the 1998 Rookie of the Year award and the 2000 series championship.

He was named the 2001 Rookie of the Year in the Xfinity Series and after winning the 2002 championship, he became the first driver with championships in both the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series.

He also co-founded the organisation’s Sand Outlaws series. Although he returned to racing after 2016, it appears he came out of retirement for a one-off race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019, which he won.

“Racing is racing,” he told Nascar.com in 2021. “It’s that adrenaline; you want to be better than the competition, and you want to build a better piece and have a faster car. I just enjoy competing.”

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The government has halted all testing of Ajax armoured vehicles after another soldier was injured during safety tests.

Three separate investigations are currently being conducted after about 30 soldiers became ill from noise and vibration during a training exercise in November.

Twenty-three vehicles used in practice had already been suspended for use due to injuries; the results of their inspections will be published in the new year.

In a written statement to parliament, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the latest report of a soldier becoming ill from vibrations came during additional safety tests aimed at providing more information for the investigation.

The defence minister said the soldier did not require hospitalisation, and the vehicle they were in – which is not one of the 23 already suspended – is undergoing a “thorough investigation”.

He said, “This additional report of injury is a serious concern to me, so out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of our personnel, I have directed a pause on all Ajax testing.”

“This is in addition to ongoing breaks for training and exercise.”

He said he would assess whether testing could be resumed in the new year.

The minister said investigation teams should be “given the necessary time and space to consider all information and evidence” and that he had met with the vehicle’s manufacturer, General Dynamics, last week.

Responding to the announcement, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens told the BBC that the most important thing is to ensure that “the equipment that is being supplied is safe”.

“The government has conducted a review,” he said.

“There are several ongoing reviews addressing the reported problems.

“While these reviews are ongoing, I can’t really comment, but I am very conscious that General Dynamics is a very significant employer in Wales and particularly in the Merthyr Tydfil constituency.

“So we’ll wait and see what happens with the review. But the most important thing is that the device provided is safe to use.”

The multi-million-pound Ajax vehicles,

The multi-million-pound Ajax vehicles, manufactured in Merthyr Tydfil by General Dynamics, were originally scheduled to enter service in 2017, with 589 vehicles delivered.

The £6.3 billion programme has been beset by problems and repeated delays, as noise and vibration have injured soldiers who have tested the vehicles.

tree stump Earlier he said he was “disgusted” that soldiers were injured even though he had been assured that the armoured vehicles were safe.

There are currently three investigations underway, by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, the Army Safety Investigation Team and a ministerial review.

According to the statement, regular meetings have also been held between the minister, the Chief of General Staff, the army and officials.

General Dynamics representatives have also met with backbench MPs in recent days, as the BBC understands.

MPs have previously raised concerns about the program’s uncertainty, which would impact jobs in their constituencies.

Pollard said the findings of the investigation into the Ajax vehicles would impact UK government defence investment planning decisions.

Earlier this week Defence Secretary John Healey said “programmes beset by deep failings such as Ajax” had delayed the publication of the plan, which was due to take place in the autumn.

It was supposed to outline the spending needed to overhaul the armed forces, but it will now be delayed to 2026.

• The Prime Minister targeted extremist preachers and visas linked to hatred.
• Plan to list organisations associated with hate speech.
• Race-based serious insults would become a federal crime.

Sydney: Australia’s prime minister vowed to end extremism on Thursday, as the country mourned the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach shooting, a 10-year-old girl who was remembered as “our little ray of sunshine.”

Father-son gunmen are accused of opening fire into a crowd at a beachside Jewish festival on Sunday evening, killing 15 people in an attack by officers linked to “Daesh ideology.”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised sweeping action to root out “the scourge of anti-Semitism from our society”.

“Australians are shocked and frustrated. I’m angry. It’s clear we need to do more to deal with this wicked crisis,” he told reporters.

This included new powers to target extremist propagandists and refuse or cancel visas for those spreading “hatred and division.”

Australia will develop a system for listing organisations.

Australia will develop a system to list organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech, he said.

“Serious insult” based on race would become a federal crime.

As the Prime Minister spoke, mourners gathered for the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim killed in the attack.

“Matilda is our little ray of sunshine,” the rabbi leading the service said, reading a message from her school.

“She is truly the most kind, caring and compassionate young girl who brightens everyone’s day with her bright smile and infectious laugh.”

Mourners dressed in black hold bouquets of lilies as they walk to a funeral at Chevra Kadisha in Sydney, a Jewish society responsible for customary burial rites.

Others held balloons decorated with pictures of bumblebees—a reference to the young girl’s nickname, “Matilda Bee.”

Hours before the first shots fired, photos captured a young girl petting animals at the zoo and smiling after having her face painted.

Before the Russian invasion, Matilda’s family left Ukraine to settle in Australia.

“I couldn’t imagine that I would lose my daughter here. It’s a nightmare,” Mother Valentina told reporters before the funeral.

“It just lives here and here, and I can’t get it out,” she said, pointing to her head and heart.

Her father, Michael, said he chose her name as a nod to Australia, where the beloved folk song “Waltzing Matilda” is sung as an unofficial national anthem.

“We came here from Ukraine and Matilda was our first child in Australia,” he said earlier this week.

“And I thought Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist.

“So just remember. Remember his name.”

extremist ideology

Sajid Akram and his son Navid have been accused of carrying out the firing on the Jewish Hanukkah festival in an anti-Semitic attack.

 

Father Sajid, 50, died in an encounter with police, but Naved, 24, survived.

Naveed, reportedly an unemployed mason, was charged on Wednesday with 15 murders, terrorist acts and dozens of other serious crimes.

Authorities believe the pair was radicalised by “Daesh ideology.”

Australian police are investigating whether the pair met with extremists during a trip to the Philippines weeks before the shootings.

On Wednesday, the Philippines stated that they found no evidence of using the country for “terrorist training”.

Questions are being raised over whether authorities could have acted earlier to thwart the gunmen.

Naved came to the attention of Australia’s intelligence agency in 2019.

But at that time he was not considered an imminent threat.

The attack has also reignited accusations that Australia is neglecting its efforts to combat anti-Semitism.

“We stand at a very critical moment,” government envoy Jillian Segal said Thursday on anti-Semitism.

“This moment is crucial not only for our community but also for the global fight against anti-Semitism.”

Australia’s leaders have agreed to tighten the laws that allow Sajid Akram to own six guns.

The Bondi Beach attack is the deadliest mass shooting since 35 people were killed in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Australia’s gun laws underwent sweeping reforms as a result of that shooting.

However, there has been a steady increase in privately owned firearms in recent years.