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BBC News with Neil Nunes.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has written a letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin inviting him to a face-to-face meeting. The letter says with America fully focused on Iran it would be wrong to wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention. Vitaly Shevchenko in Kyiv has this assessment. It's about messaging rather than anything else. Will this letter lead to peace in Ukraine? Unlikely. Will it even lead to serious talks between the two presidents? That's also unlikely. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making these offers knowing that they are most likely going to be rejected or not taken seriously. President Trump says he's spoken directly to the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah about a possible end to fighting in Lebanon. He told reporters at the White House he believed progress was being made. "I will tell you they called us and they said how about stopping and I think you're gonna see things happen over there. That's been like a little bit of a different world but it's interconnected with Iran and it would be really nice if Lebanon could have some peace. Lebanon's been under attack for so many years and always like an underdog." Mr. Trump claimed Hezbollah had not rejected the U.S. proposals for peace. Donald Trump is to use legislation from the Cold War era of the 1950s to boost the U.S. coal industry. The Defense Production Act grants presidents authority over industries deemed critical to national security. More from Tom Simons in Washington. Donald Trump's plans include redirecting $200 million from climate change projects to a coal plant in Maryland and two new ones in Alaska and West Virginia. A new coal export terminal will be built in California capable of handling 12 million tons a year. He claimed today's announcement would bring down household costs for Americans. The Trump administration sees coal as a critical source of energy for the U.S., especially during the war with Iran. A man hired recently by the U.S. Pentagon has been identified taking part in riots at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Elias Irizarry, who was 19 at the time, is seen in video footage climbing through a window. He later pleaded guilty to various offenses. He is now working in a department responsible for uncovering terror plots. The United States is imposing new economic sanctions on the Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and some of his immediate family as Washington ramps up pressure on the communist-led island. The U.S. Treasury Department's websites and some affiliated people and entities, including some of the Castro family, had also been targeted. BBC News. President Trump has announced a rally in Washington to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. It's due to take place on the evening of June 24. In a post on Truth Social, he described it as "a rally to end all rallies." The American country music singer Lee Greenwood and the classical crossover tenor Christopher Marcchio will perform. A new study of satellite images has found that mangroves are showing signs of recovery after decades of destruction. The tropical and subtropical forests play an important role in climate regulation and coastal protection but have been threatened by fish farming and urban development. Here's Matt McGrath. Mangroves are the unsung heroes of the environment, stemming storms and soaking up carbon in large quantities. But decades of shrimp farming and the expansion of coastal cities has seen them cleared in vast amounts from shorelines, especially in Asia. However, this new study suggests the tide has turned and once humans stopped chopping them down, these resilient forests have expanded rapidly in many regions. Liverpool Football Club has confirmed the appointment of Andoni Iraola as their new head coach. The Spaniard is believed to have signed a two-year contract. The former Bournemouth manager said he was really excited to start at the club. His appointment follows the surprise sacking of Arne Slot. Hollywood has spent the week celebrating 100 years since the birth of Marilyn Monroe, with museum exhibitions and special events. Auction houses in Beverly Hill have also been cashing in on the star's enduring appeal. Julian's auction just sold more than 100 personal items, including a used hot pink lipstick for more than $12,000. That's the latest BBC World News. |