Blog Verité

European leaders to begin Paris meeting as Trump forges ahead with Ukraine peace talks  CNN European Leaders Meet to Discuss Ukraine War as Trump Officials Prepare For Russia Peace Talks  The New York Times Trump pushes Russia to end war with Ukraine

The White House bans the AP indefinitely over the use of ‘Gulf of Mexico’  CNN International

Turkish authorities have sealed off a luxury spa run by a five-star Istanbul hotel that was set up by illegally modifying a 1,500-year-old cistern, officials told AFP on Monday. The Navitas Spa Sarnic is operated by the Hagia Sofia Mansions

The meaning of Presidents Day has changed dramatically, from being mostly unremarkable and filled with work for Washington in the 1700s to the bonanza of consumerism it has become today. For some historians, the holiday has lost all discernible meaning.

In a new piece about the GOP’s latest “sycophantic” push to curry favor with President Donald Trump, MSNBC columnist Steve Benen felt compelled to include a caveat: “In case there are any doubts, this isn’t intended as satire.” New legislation

Once a skeptic of cryptocurrencies, Trump has made a complete reversal and embraced digital currencies in a way no other elected official has done.

What key players want from Ukraine war talks  BBC.com Trump pushes Russia to end war with Ukraine as government overhaul takes shape in the US  CNN European leaders gather for emergency talks, fearing that Trump has abandoned age-old allies  The Associated Press Europeans

Retired Vice Admiral Mark Norman, who once served as Canada’s Vice Chief of the Defense Staff, does not believe that the relationship between his nation and the United States is salvageable — even if President Donald Trump is no longer

European leaders gathered in Paris Monday for emergency talks on how to react to the U.S. diplomatic blitz on Ukraine, which has thrown a once-solid alliance into turmoil and left the Europeans questioning the reliability of their key transatlantic partner. [time-brightcove

The 88-year-old pontiff was initially admitted to the hospital on Friday for bronchitis. On Monday, the Vatican said test results show Francis has “a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract.” (Image credit: Mondadori Portfolio)